Chapter 299: The Dingnan Army Matter

By the time evening arrived, darkness fell especially quickly. The boundless twilight was like a giant beast, opening its bloody maw and devouring the already dim light between heaven and earth until nothing remained.

The noticeably colder chill made people quite uncomfortable, and the palace eunuchs attending in the hall methodically added charcoal to the braziers.

Liu Chengyou could hardly bear the murky, stagnant air, so he ordered the doors and windows opened for ventilation. The cold wind that surged in from outside immediately suppressed the temperature that had just risen within the hall.

Standing by the window, he let the cool breeze blow on him for a while. Zhang Dejun attentively fetched a fur robe: "Your Majesty, the weather is cold—please do not catch a chill."

Liu Chengyou did not put up a show of toughness. He took the robe and draped it over himself, lingered only for the space of a few breaths, then turned back into the hall. Warming himself by the fire, he casually asked Wang Qiwu, who was in attendance before the throne: "Qiwu, what are your views on the Dingnan Army? Duke Zhe is quite wary of this Tangut force!"

Wang Qiwu had been waiting at the side all along. Though he had not spoken, he had heard the entire exchange between the two. Now that he was asked, he clasped his hands and said: "Regarding the Dingnan Army, I know too little to dare offer reckless commentary. However, what Duke Zhe said was surely not alarmist talk!"

Liu Chengyou was very satisfied with Wang Qiwu's rigorous attitude—no wonder the man had talent as a historian. Wang Qiwu had previously been singled out by Jia Wei, who was compiling history at the Historiography Institute, and had recently been frequently summoned to assist in editing the Veritable Records of Gaozu. Liu Chengyou had not obstructed such opportunities for him to display his abilities; on the contrary, he encouraged them.

"Your Majesty, as Duke Zhe said, the Dingnan Army, beginning from Li Sigong, has grown steadily stronger over the past several decades. It holds the Hetao region, occupies several prefectures including Xia and Sui, and commands tens of thousands of troops. In particular, the Tuoba Li clan's control over the various Tangut tribes has also been strengthening."

Under Liu Chengyou's gaze, Wang Qiwu still briefly offered his view: "In my humble opinion, the growth of the Dingnan Army is naturally detrimental to the stability of the Great Han's northwestern border. However, given our dynasty's current circumstances, there is truly no means to restrain or constrain the Dingnan Army. Military Governor Li Yiyin of Dingnan has already controlled Xia and Sui for fourteen years. If their ambitions cannot be contained, they could raise the banner of revolt at any moment and break away from the Great Han's rule."

"This is precisely what I consider a great concern. Xiazhou is, after all, not like the other military provinces under the Great Han's governance. When I pacified Hezhong, Li Yiyin had already mobilized the troops of Xiazhou, restless and ready to move!" Liu Chengyou's hands were still held over the charcoal fire, the flames casting a red glow upon them. The warmth could not dispel his worries: "Had I not swiftly pacified Hezhong at that time and cowed the petty factions, who knows what upheaval might have erupted west of the Passes!"

Hearing this, Wang Qiwu was somewhat surprised: "From what I have heard, was it not a conflict between the Dingnan Army and the Yanzhou Army at that time?"

Liu Chengyou shot Wang Qiwu a glance laden with deep meaning: "With your keen insight and sharp vision, Minister Wang, can you not see through this surface appearance?"

Wang Qiwu could not help but reveal a modest smile.

His smile slightly fading, Wang Qiwu carefully glanced at Liu Chengyou's profile. After a moment's hesitation, he said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, compared with the Great Han, Xiazhou's strength is naturally not worth mentioning. But if it truly revolts, the court would have no power to suppress it. What the Great Han needs more now is to sheathe its swords and end warfare, to govern and nurture the people. Even after the state weathers this difficult period, the court's focus should still be on resisting the Khitan and subduing the various states..."

Observing the Emperor's expression, seeing that he still appeared to be listening, his countenance unmoved, Wang Qiwu drew a deep breath and said in a tone of remonstrance: "Your Majesty's vision is profound and far-reaching, but the concern over Dingnan is truly a distant worry, not a pressing matter of the present!"

"Are you afraid I cannot distinguish what is primary from what is secondary?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"That is not what I meant." Wang Qiwu said quickly.

"One who does not plan for the whole is unfit to plan for a single part!" Liu Chengyou waved a hand at him and said: "It was only because I received Duke Zhe that the topic came up. As for the established strategy and national policy, how could I lightly speak of changing it."

"Your Majesty is wise."

"In your view, how should I deal with this Dingnan Army?" Liu Chengyou returned to sit at the imperial desk and asked leisurely: "I clearly remember that when the Uyghurs came to present tribute, they even seized the tribute horses! Have they ever held the Great Han court in any regard?"

"Your Majesty should placate them thoroughly—grant them office, advance their noble rank—to secure peace on the western frontier!" Wang Qiwu said solemnly, his expression seeming especially grave as he spoke these words.

Liu Chengyou said: "These are all things I have already done!"

Wang Qiwu lowered his voice to an extreme: "Your Majesty, if necessary, Li Yiyin has not yet been enfeoffed as a prince..."

His calm gaze sharpened in an instant. Liu Chengyou stared at Wang Qiwu: "Your proposal is quite bold!"

Wang Qiwu reported with great solemnity: "I merely feel that if the northwest can be stabilized, a few empty titles are not worth begrudging!"

Liu Chengyou said very seriously: "I am afraid he might turn the empty title into real power!"

From Liu Chengyou's demeanor, it was clear that he was somewhat sensitive about the matter of enfeoffing a prince. Of course, that was all it was. When it truly came to a critical moment, not to mention a prince's title—he would even be capable of temporarily granting Li Yiyin the entire Hetao region, or even the Hexi Corridor.

Speaking of it, everyone cursed Shi Jingtang as the "Son of Heaven" who played the 'Son Emperor', ceding territory and selling out the nation. However, had he been able to stabilize his realm in his subsequent actions, strike north against the Khitan, and recover Yanyun, it might well have become another inspirational tale of "sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall" sung through the ages. It was just that Shi Jingtang failed, and left behind a root of disaster, doomed to be reviled for ten thousand years.

"Gao Yunquan's rift with Xiazhou grows ever deeper, nearly coming to blows. What if the court supports Yanzhou in opposing them, using it to check the Tanguts—how would that be?" Liu Chengyou asked on a whim, consulting Wang Qiwu.

The intent stirring in Liu Chengyou's eyes almost became tangible. Seeing this, Wang Qiwu answered without hesitation, very seriously: "Your Majesty, if the court makes too many moves, I fear it will only arouse Xiazhou's suspicion and drive them away from the court's heart. If they are won over by the Khitan and lean toward the northern barbarians, causing harm on both fronts..."

"No matter how we discuss it, I must simply endure their threat?" Liu Chengyou said with slight anger. In the end, Liu Chengyou, deep down, always had many ideas.

Wang Qiwu fell silent. After pondering for a while, he still answered cautiously: "In my view, regarding the northwestern border situation, it suffices to listen and observe."

"Leave them to their own devices?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"If the conflict between Xiazhou and Yanzhou intensifies to the point of armed hostilities, the court should still step forward to mediate!" Wang Qiwu said.

"Enough of this!" Liu Chengyou flicked his sleeve.

Facing a Son of Heaven who was unlike his usual self, full of restless energy, Wang Qiwu could hardly help feeling surprised. Just as he was pondering how to counsel this young Son of Heaven, he heard Liu Chengyou, after a brief silence, unable to resist speaking again: "If we could provoke enmity between Xiazhou and the Khitan, and use their strength to deal with the Khitan, I might be able to rest easy!"

At this mention, Wang Qiwu's eyes also brightened slightly. The sovereign and his minister immediately delved into deep discussion on this subject. However, they could not reach any conclusion. In the end, the Great Han's national strength was insufficient—there were not many chips worth putting on the table.

As the night grew later, Liu Chengyou, to show imperial favor, kept Wang Qiwu to share the evening meal. Only afterward did he allow him to take his leave, and along the way, he gave Wang Qiwu a new task.

He handed Wang Qiwu the "Finger to the Mystery in Eighty-One Chapters" that the old Daoist Chen Tuan had given him, asking him to translate and interpret it.