Chapter 277: Matters Divided North and South

"The military reform is a matter of great importance—it cannot be rushed, nor can it be neglected. As previously discussed, let Minister Guo take the lead, with the Bureau of Military Affairs and the Imperial Guard Command, to first draft a set of regulations. Once reviewed and finalized, we shall implement it steadily. This winter, we will devote our full efforts to this matter!" With one statement, Liu Chengyou settled the matter completely, both demonstrating his cautious attitude and making clear his resolute intent.

As the Emperor's voice fell, the murmuring discussion ceased at once, and the ministers rose together, replying in unison: "Yes!"

After the military reform was decided, the faces of the ministers bore varying degrees of added gravity, especially those of Shang Hongqian, Guo Wei, and a few others.

Liu Chengyou swept his gaze briefly across the hall, and seeing that even the autumn wind seemed unable to dispel the anxiety within the chamber, he proactively changed the subject, asking: "What is the situation in Xu and Huai now?"

At the mention of this matter, the ministers' thoughts were immediately pulled back. Facing Liu Chengyou's question, Shang Hongqian clasped his hands and replied: "Before Your Majesty departed on the western campaign, you instructed us to be wary of the false Tang. We therefore dispatched Commander Wang Yin of the Fengguo Army and senior officer Wang Yansheng of the Husheng Army, leading two thousand cavalry to patrol the Huai region, on guard against any alarm."

"After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the southern troops began to stir. The false Tang sovereign dispatched Military Governor Li Jinquan of Zhenhai as Northern Expedition Commissioner, with Bian Gao as deputy commissioner, advancing from Hao and Si. He also sent Chief Inspector Huangfu Hui of the Shenwei Army to lead troops out of Chuzhou, plotting against our Xuzhou. However, after Your Majesty returned with the army, they went quiet again."

"The Military Intelligence Bureau received word from Jinling that the false Tang sovereign, cowed by our dynasty's military might and filled with fear, dared not act rashly, and thus withdrew his troops!" Guo Wei added from the side.

"That the southern army is weak and inferior is plain to see!" Hearing this, a trace of mockery curled at the corner of Liu Chengyou's mouth: "I hear that the false Tang sovereign Li Jing excels at prose and verse, indulges in pleasure, and lets factional strife run unchecked. He cannot even settle matters within his own house, yet still wishes to meddle abroad—truly lacking in self-awareness."

As Liu Chengyou's words fell, Feng Dao, Su Yugui, and other ministers immediately spoke up in agreement, singing his praises. These men might be extremely wary of the northern invaders, but toward the separatist powers in the south, they still held considerable psychological superiority.

His thoughts shifting, Liu Chengyou suddenly asked: "That Huangfu Hui—he was the one who, when the Central Plains had not yet been recovered, led the troops and people of Mizhou southward to defect to the false Tang, was he not!"

"Your Majesty is erudite with a retentive memory—it is indeed this man!" Feng Dao said flatteringly.

Liu Chengyou knew of this man because, before Liu Zhiyuan raised his army last year, he had constantly lectured on the state of the world—the west submitting to Shu, the southeast submitting to Tang... Through constant exposure, he had come to remember the name Huangfu Hui.

"Your Majesty, since the founding of the Great Han, the false Tang has harbored hostile intentions toward our dynasty, constantly spying on Huainan, restless and eager to move, vainly attempting to seize the north of the Huai and advance into the Central Plains. On this occasion, your ministers had originally proposed that we punish the Tang bandits, gather heavy forces to strike and annihilate them, dealing them a heavy blow—" At this point, Shang Hongqian paused, glancing sidelong at Guo Wei, and said coolly: "Unfortunately, this proposal was obstructed by Chancellor Guo of the Bureau of Military Affairs and others."

Shang Hongqian was again raking up old matters. Hearing this, Guo Wei immediately rose to explain: "Your Majesty, waging war costs a fortune daily. The court's finances were already insufficient, and to pacify the western rebellion, the treasury has been drained. Since the false Tang sovereign has voluntarily withdrawn his troops, how can our dynasty take the initiative to provoke another conflict?"

"With the Khitan harassing us in the north, our dynasty currently lacks the strength for external expansion. Without preparation, rashly moving troops would yield no advantage and might even harm our national and military strength. Though the southern troops are weak, the Li clan has been rooted in Jianghuai for over a decade with formidable national power. Should the war drag on, in terms of attrition—and I say this not out of self-deprecation—our dynasty may not be a match for the false Tang..."

Guo Wei's words, while refuting Shang Hongqian, were also offering counsel to Liu Chengyou. Noticing his meaningful gaze, Liu Chengyou understood the implication.

"Minister Guo harbors grand strategy in his breast, views the world with perspective, and plans with deep foresight—I commend this!" First, Liu Chengyou gave Guo Wei an affirmative response, not stinting on praise.

As Guo Wei bowed, Liu Chengyou noticed Shang Hongqian's face, which had already lost much of its honest hue, and then said calmly yet firmly: "The false Tang sovereign knows not the will of Heaven and repeatedly offends imperial majesty. One day, I shall personally lead troops southward and hunt across Jianghuai!"

"For now, let him be..."

"Yes."

"How goes the situation with the Khitan raiding our borders?" Liu Chengyou turned his concern to the situation in Hebei.

"To answer Your Majesty. Since the pacification army returned east, the Khitan have relaxed their plundering and gradually withdrawn northward." This time, it was Wei Renpu who rose to answer: "According to the report from Military Governor Zhang Yanwei of Chengde, the Khitan cavalry that had invaded the two prefectures of Zhao and Ji have completely withdrawn north. Generals Murong Yanzhao and Li Yun launched a joint interception, killing and capturing over seven hundred barbarian horsemen in total. Prince of Yan Zhao Kuangzan reports that the Liao army commander Yelu Anbo has also led the main force of the southern-invading Khitan northward, retreating to Tan and Ji."

During the western campaign to pacify Li Shouzhen, though Liu Chengyou's attention was focused on Hezhong, his vigilance toward the Southern Tang and the Khitan had never relaxed. This time, the Liao Emperor Yelu Ruan had dispatched Left Commissioner of Military Affairs Yelu Anbo with twenty thousand troops to invade the south. From this troop count alone, one could tell that the Khitan intended to grab what they could and flee, with no designs on occupying cities or seizing territory.

Yelu Anbo was the Liao Emperor's trusted right-hand man, a minister who had followed him from the start, having rendered great service in the process of Yelu Ruan's ascension to the throne and his suppression of the various tribes. After the success, he was appointed Left Commissioner of Military Affairs, wielding military power.

This man's abilities posed some threat. From the very beginning, he had firmly set his goal of marching south—robbing money and grain, seizing livestock and people, and killing those he could not take. Under his command, the two garrisons of Lulong and Chengde, along with Yiwu, once again suffered severe devastation.

Wei Renpu continued his report: "This time, according to the reports from the various northern prefectures, combining the garrisons of Lulong, Yiwu, and Chengde with the prefectural defense troops, we killed and wounded over seven hundred barbarian horsemen in total, captured three hundred, and seized more than five hundred war horses, which have already been transported to the Eastern Capital."

"And our losses?" Liu Chengyou asked with a furrowed brow.

Pausing briefly, Wei Renpu recited the compiled figures: "Based on all reports received so far, the various attacked prefectures and garrisons have suffered over two thousand three hundred soldiers killed or wounded, more than three thousand civilians dead, over a thousand taken north as captives. The losses in money, grain, and goods are as yet uncounted..."

Heavy breathing sounded clearly in the ears of the assembled ministers. Liu Chengyou's chest rose and fell several times before he managed to calm himself with some difficulty.

"Even after recovering Youzhou, we are still passively taking beatings!" Liu Chengyou said with some melancholy.

Hearing this, Wang Jun raised his head and said in a loud voice: "What use is seizing a pass without seizing the strategic terrain? Zhao Kuangzan could not fully intercept them, so the Liao cavalry could easily ford the rivers and ride south!"

Wang Jun's words directly pointed out the limitation of Liu Chengyou's original scheme to seize Youzhou, and to the ears of others, even carried a hint of questioning.

The ministers could not help but be startled. Since Wang Jun's return to court, he had spoken only a few sentences at this court assembly, yet the tone of every sentence was so blunt.

The old fox couldn't help but glance at him, then cast a sidelong look at Yang Bin, who sat silently off to the side—the last person with such an aggressive tone had been Chancellor Yang.

"Commissioner Wang's words are somewhat biased." Wei Renpu, with a deferential and honest demeanor, very gracefully clasped his hands toward Wang Jun before speaking: "If Youzhou were not recovered, as one side rises and the other falls, the defensive pressure in the north would be even greater, and when the barbarian cavalry invade south, our dynasty's losses would be even heavier!"

Seeing Wei Renpu directly refute him, Wang Jun's expression immediately soured. He narrowed his eyes at Wei Renpu, flashing several meaningful glances. After all, Wei Renpu was technically his subordinate now, yet he dared to directly point out his "slip of the tongue" before the Emperor. Of course, he also knew that the Emperor greatly favored this man.

Liu Chengyou paid no attention to Wang Jun. He raised his hand, clenched it into a fist, and slowly brought it down—not quickly, but when it touched the imperial desk, it produced a short, forceful sound.

The sharp sound rang through the imperial hall. Liu Chengyou said: "If the army is not in order, how can we resist the northern barbarians, protect our homeland, defend our rivers and mountains, and wash away our shame?"

He once again emphasized the necessity of military reorganization.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Chengyou solemnly issued his decree: "Transmit the edict to Zhao Kuangzan of Lulong, Zhang Yanwei of Chengde, and Sun Fangjian of Yiwu: properly settle and console the affected soldiers, civilians, and common people. This year's autumn tax is hereby reduced by decree."

Essentially, after this edict was issued, there was no need to expect much revenue from the Hebei prefectures this year. After all, Hebei had suffered disaster upon disaster this year.

"Your Majesty, Prince of Yan Zhao Kuangzan reports that due to the Khitan raids, the territories under Youyan have suffered great damage. He requests that the court allocate money and grain to support them through the harsh winter!"

Money and grain again! Hearing this, Liu Chengyou nearly cursed aloud, but he forcibly held it back.

After a moment of silence, Liu Chengyou directly tossed the matter to Wang Zhang: "Minister Wang, let the State Finance Commission deliberate on this matter and reply as appropriate!"