Chapter 27: Debate on Sending Troops

In the side hall of the Taiyuan palace, where Liu Zhiyuan conducted daily governance and received his ministers, Liu Chengyou and Guo Wei entered one after another to find many already standing inside. Besides Liu Chengxun, there were familiar faces such as Liu Chong, Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, Liu Xin, Shi Hongzhao, Bai Wenke, and Chang Si.

Today, however, several additional generals had been added—Chief Inspector of the Cavalry and Infantry Guo Congyi, Commander of the Konghe Army Li Hongxin, Chief Commander of the Right Wing of the Xingjie Army Shang Hongqian, and others—all core commanders of the various armies. Wang Jun and Zhang Yanwei, by virtue of their previous merits, were also permitted to be present.

Before long, accompanied by two palace eunuchs, Liu Zhiyuan strode in with a forceful gait, his steps like a dragon's tread and a tiger's stride, authority radiating from every pore. After taking his seat and receiving the homage of the civil and military officials, he gestured to Su Fengji: "Tell the assembled ministers everything!"

"Yes!" Su Fengji stepped forward, responding respectfully, then looked at the assembly and said: "Your Majesty's ascension has shaken the realm. The Khitan ruler flew into a rage and has already issued an edict stripping Your Majesty of his offices..."

As he said this, the corners of Su Fengji's mouth involuntarily curled into a slight smile, and many of the ministers below wore contemptuous expressions. Pausing briefly, Su Fengji continued: "However, the Khitan ruler is deeply wary of His Majesty's accession to the throne and has already taken countermeasures. News flies in from Bianliang—the Khitan ruler has appointed the interpreter Geng Chongmei as Military Governor of Luzhou, Gao Tangying as Military Governor of Xiangzhou, and Cui Tingxun as Military Governor of Heyang, to serve as defensive bulwarks."

"The Khitan forces in the Central Plains have already shown signs of being redeployed northward. According to intelligence reports, the prefectures and counties along the Taihang line have also strengthened their defenses..."

When his words fell, the hall fell silent for a moment. Liu Zhiyuan swept his gaze around, waved his hand to dismiss Su Fengji, and spoke: "What views do you all have on the Khitan's reaction?"

At this moment, before anyone else could speak, Wang Jun, eager to distinguish himself, stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, Luzhou, Xiangzhou, and Heyang command vital strategic points. If our dynasty wishes to move south and advance into the Central Plains, these will be the first obstacles we face—we truly cannot afford to ignore them. We should strike first while these three have not yet assumed their posts, drive our troops south, seize the key terrain, and grasp the initiative..."

"Wang Jun's words carry some reason!" Wang Jun had barely paused when Shi Hongzhao immediately picked up, his tone impatient and loud: "Your Majesty should be dealing with the powerful enemy to the south, and stop wasting time on that doomed, benighted ruler Shi Chonggui!"

Wang Jun, having been cut off by Shi Hongzhao, whose tone also carried a hint of belittlement, wore an ugly expression with a flash of anger flickering across his face as he retreated in frustration.

Shi Hongzhao, for his part, paid no mind to the reaction of a minor figure like Wang Jun. He looked at Liu Zhiyuan, awaiting his opinion. This was, in a sense, him raising the matter again—now that they had already proclaimed an emperor, they simply could not understand Liu Zhiyuan's stubborn insistence on personally leading troops east to rescue the young emperor of Jin, doing something so pointless, and they all opposed it.

Liu Zhiyuan, however, directly raised his hand and said stubbornly: "My mind is made up on this matter—it is not open to question. Today, I have summoned you all to deal with the Khitan. Do not raise other topics!"

"In that case, I dare to request command of the vanguard, to ride ahead of Your Majesty, seize Luzhou, Zezhou, and Huaizhou first, water our horses in the Yi and Luo rivers, and clear the path for Your Majesty's advance!" Shi Hongzhao clasped his fists in request, his face full of confidence.

"It seems that Minister Shi approves of advancing!" Liu Zhiyuan said.

"I oppose it!" The one who spoke was Yang Bin: "Your Majesty, the Khitan's main forces are still concentrated in the Central Plains, their strength remains intact. To go south now would be no different from smashing an egg against a stone. Even if our army is fierce, clashing head-on with the enemy will inevitably bring losses and drain our own strength. Moreover, this is precisely the spring plowing season—once the sword is drawn, farming will surely be delayed. This is not the optimal time to advance. I beg Your Majesty to exercise patience for now!"

As if sharing the same trousers with Yang Bin, Wang Zhang also rose to echo: "If our army advances into the Central Plains, we will surely commit our full strength southward. The preparation of provisions and weapons, the conscription of civilian labor, the arrangement of defenses for prefectures and counties—none of these can be properly settled in a short time..."

The moment the two finished speaking, Shi Hongzhao grew anxious at once. Glaring at Yang and Wang, he demanded: "Back then, you two also approved of His Majesty raising the banner. Now that His Majesty has become the Son of Heaven, this is precisely the time for bold enterprise and carving out the realm. In barely half a month, why have you changed your tune? Your attitudes have shifted far too quickly!"

Hearing this, Yang Bin and Wang Zhang could not help but exchange a glance, each seeing a hint of annoyance in the other's eyes. On Liu Zhiyuan's side, a flicker of displeasure also crossed his face as he said to Shi Hongzhao: "Do not be rude!"

"I am hasty by nature—I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!" Under Liu Zhiyuan's stare, Shi Hongzhao became somewhat more subdued, but his tone still carried indignation: "Yet Your Majesty previously issued an edict, proclaiming to all under heaven, calling on all subjects to jointly campaign against the Khitan. Now that our dynasty possesses elite troops and fierce warriors, yet remains trapped in Hedong, cowering and refusing to advance—how will the world view this?"

"War is a great matter of state—one must assess the times and circumstances, and act according to what is most fitting!" Yang Bin immediately said: "Now the enemy is strong and we are weak; we must act with even greater prudence, not recklessly! Your Majesty's decision to postpone the campaign is truly a consideration of the overall situation. Once everything is prepared, we can strike with one concerted effort, smash through like a whirlwind, and take the Central Plains directly!"

"I see that you two are cowards afraid of battle!" Shi Hongzhao could not hold back and shot back, sneering at Yang Bin: "Who are Geng Chongmei, Gao Tangying, and Cui Tingxun? Nothing but nameless nobodies. What is there to fear? They can be crushed with a turn of the hand!"

"General Shi must not underestimate the men of the world—know that an arrogant army is easily defeated!"

"..."

"Enough!" Seeing the civil and military officials' dispute growing ever more heated, Liu Zhiyuan finally could not bear it. After quelling the quarrel, he spoke slowly: "The use of troops distinguishes between urgent and gradual matters—one must adapt to the times. Now the Khitan sits like a tiger upon the capital, their momentum at its peak, with no other changes in sight. How can we act rashly? You all must set your sights further ahead—simply wait quietly for the situation to shift!"

Liu Zhiyuan's meaning was already quite clear: hold the troops in place. Though Shi Hongzhao's temper was violent, he was not so dense as to fail to understand plain speech. Even if unwilling, he no longer dared to argue with Yang and Wang in the hall. He could only shut his mouth and glare hatefully at the two.

"Your Majesty, even if we do not advance, since the Khitan have made moves, our dynasty should also have a response strategy. If we do nothing at all, the world will surely look down on us!" With Shi Hongzhao silent, Wang Jun spoke up again.

Liu Zhiyuan pondered, seeming to find the words reasonable, and thought seriously for a long while. Then he said: "What ideas do you all have?"

"Since the distant cannot be plotted against, the near can be taken!" Guo Wei stepped forward at this moment and answered slowly.

"Speak!"

"Wang Hui of Daizhou, though subordinate to Hedong, has dared to betray the Jin and submit to the Khitan, carving out his own domain. Previously, Your Majesty, on account of the Khitan, allowed him his arrogance and tolerated him for a few days. Now is precisely the time to send troops against him—this both eliminates a threat at our very elbow and displays our dynasty's might!" Guo Wei said.

When his words fell, Liu Zhiyuan's eyes brightened slightly. He gave Guo Wei a look of approval and asked directly: "Who will lead the troops?"

Wang Jun's body had just begun to move when Shi Hongzhao had already declared in a loud voice: "I am willing to go—within five days, I will surely pacify Daizhou!"

His gaze lingered on Shi Hongzhao for a moment, and Liu Zhiyuan agreed almost without a second thought. After all, Shi Hongzhao was his beloved general, and his face had already been brushed aside in the hall today. A Wang Hui could be crushed with a turn of the hand—this would serve as a consolation.

The court conference ended quickly. Wang Jun was deeply frustrated, Shi Hongzhao was displeased, and the others simply watched the show.

Liu Chengyou remained silent throughout, observing the whole process, watching Shi Hongzhao argue with Yang Bin and Wang Zhang. From beginning to end, not a single person spoke up for him—not even Guo Wei, with whom he was ordinarily on good terms. From this, one could see just how poor his relations were.

Liu Chengyou, however, could not understand what Liu Zhiyuan saw in him. If it was bravery, the army was full of it; if it was skill in war, Shi Hongzhao could hardly be called a famous general...