Chapter 386: Returning to Pay Homage to the Son of Heaven

The monarch and his minister reached a consensus, and all that remained was for the Hall of State Affairs and the Bureau of Military Affairs to go through the appointment procedures. Liu Chengyou appointed Zhe Congruan as Patrol Inspector of Lingqing, commanding military affairs of the six prefectures of Ling, Yan, Wei, Qing, Ning, and Yan, holding the tally to campaign against the miscellaneous barbarians of Hexi, with Chief Commander Wang Yanchao of the Left Wing of Iron Cavalry and Commander Zhao Hongyin of the Martial Valor Command as his deputies, and allocated two thousand Palace cavalry to him to serve as the central army.

"It's just that this old minister is pitiable—sparing no effort, rushing to the front lines. My heart cannot bear it, and I don't know how to face the Worthy Consort..."

Facing the Son of Heaven's lament, Zhe Congruan gave face and took the initiative to respond and console. No longer surprised by the Son of Heaven's methods of winning hearts, he nonetheless appreciated this attitude.

As for this campaign, Zhe Congruan thought more deeply. On the way to the banquet at Jiying Hall, he racked his brains to analyze whether there was some deeper meaning behind the Son of Heaven's move. From Zhe Congruan's observation, since the Son of Heaven ascended the throne, whether in governance or in war, he never acted without purpose—and this time it was personally entrusted by the Emperor.

Not skilled at strenuous deliberation, it was only when the banquet at Jiying Hall began that Zhe Congruan vaguely grasped something. According to his conjecture, the Emperor sent him on campaign and selected elite imperial army troops to accompany him—suppressing the rebellion was naturally the goal, but beyond that, there might also be an intention to display martial might and military prestige.

As for whom to display might toward—the various barbarian tribes beyond the passes, the Khitan beyond the northern frontier, the southern states—and more importantly, perhaps, the military governors of the passes within the frontier. The Great Han's territory comprised five major regions: Youyan aside for now, Hedong was the land of imperial rise, Henan and Hebei were the foundations of the state—only Guanzhong always seemed somewhat estranged from the court...

Recalling the court's two previous adjustments to the garrisons west of the passes, plus the annual troop rotations and defense shifts in Shandong, and considering the adjustment of his own Fuzhou—Zhe Congruan gradually felt he truly understood the Emperor's intent: to strengthen the court's influence and control over the garrisons west of the passes.

Having reasoned this far, Zhe Congruan abandoned the risky offensive plan he had conceived in his mind. Suppressing the rebellion in the northwest could not afford any error—better to proceed with both suppression and pacification simultaneously, steadily and safely.

Clearly, it was the policy direction Liu Chengyou and the court had taken over these past few years that made the local military governors somewhat nervous—including Zhe Congruan, who overreacted.

If Liu Chengyou knew of Old General Zhe's deliberations, he would only say the man was overthinking. This was, after all, merely an ordinary rebellion-suppression decision. Even if there was an element of showing force, it was only a side effect of dispatching troops—campaigning against a miscellaneous barbarian tribe at the frontier, who could possibly be intimidated?

What Liu Chengyou wanted more was to display the court's tough attitude toward external forces—that no person or power could lightly insult it. Though he could not yet shout the slogan "Though distant, must be punished," this was, after all, a beginning.

"Your Majesty, Deputy Commissioner of the Wude Office Wang Jingchong and Militia Commissioner of Daizhou Yang Ye have returned to the capital and are resting at Xiangfu Post Station west of the capital, awaiting summons!"

The report from the attendant at Chongzheng Hall made Liu Chengyou pause slightly in his vermilion brushwork, and he instructed: "Send someone out of the palace to summon them—have them come directly into the palace to see me!"

A full half hour later, after Liu Chengyou had reviewed more than a dozen more memorials and the palace attendants had changed the candles, he finally received the report that Wang Jingchong and Yang Ye were awaiting audience before the hall.

"Summon them!"

Three people entered the hall for audience—besides Wang Jingchong and Yang Ye, there was also Wang Shenqi. All three bore the look of long travel, faces weathered, expressions weary.

"Your servants pay respects to Your Majesty!" They knelt in unison.

"Rise!"

Though his emotions were not particularly stirred, Liu Chengyou's reaction was warm. He personally rose, stepped directly around the imperial desk, and walked down the imperial steps to stand before the three who had risen.

"Chonggui, it's been a long time since I've seen you—my heart has missed you dearly!" Liu Chengyou vigorously patted Yang Ye's shoulder, and the stalwart body did not budge an inch.

Noticing the remnants of unmelted snow on his shoulder, he reached out and brushed it away. Facing the Son of Heaven's warm reception, Yang Ye's expression could barely hold—his face full of emotion, he nearly knelt on the spot: "I am grateful for Your Majesty's concern!"

Stepping back two paces, Liu Chengyou looked Yang Ye up and down. Commanding troops, guarding the frontier, defending against the Khitan—after two years of tempering, he was clearly more mature. Though he could not determine exactly how far Yang Ye had grown, Liu Chengyou believed placing him in Daizhou was the right decision. After all, Yang Ye and Yanmen Pass shared a "bond."

Withdrawing his gaze, Liu Chengyou turned to Wang Shenqi at the side, eyes piercing, authority radiating: "So you are Wang Shenqi?"

This was Wang Shenqi's first time entering Chongzheng Hall, and the closest he had ever been to the Emperor. Facing the Son of Heaven's direct question, he could not help but be agitated—his face flushed red, head lowered, he answered nervously: "In response to Your Majesty, it is this humble general!"

"No need to be so ill at ease!" The more Liu Chengyou enjoyed his subjects'—especially military officers'—awe of him, the more magnanimous he appeared on the surface.

Raising his hand, Liu Chengyou said: "I have long heard of you. You resisted the Khitan's raids and plundering, protected our homeland, and rendered no small merit. Yang Ye has recommended you to the court many times. In this suppression of the rebellion in Wutai County, which spilled into three counties, you led troops in successive strikes against the rebels, fighting with great valor—you should be credited with the foremost merit!"

"This humble general dares not claim merit!" Receiving the praise, Wang Shenqi suppressed the excitement in his heart and expressed humility.

Off to the side, noticing Liu Chengyou's attitude toward Wang Shenqi, Wang Jingchong's brow furrowed slightly, and a shadow of malice flashed through his eyes. At this moment, he was deeply displeased with Wang Shenqi, wishing he could be done with him.

Back in Xinzhou, Deputy Commissioner Wang had considered himself a senior, seen Wang Shenqi's potential, and later, in the process of pacifying the rebellion, Wang Shenqi had displayed his command abilities to the full, making Wang Jingchong genuinely eager—he had reported his merits to the court.

Afterward, brimming with enthusiasm, he had hosted a banquet and invited Wang Shenqi, stating his intentions plainly—he wished to adopt him as a righteous son. What Wang Jingchong saw as a natural course of events was politely declined by Wang Shenqi, and for this, he came to hate him.

Nodding, Liu Chengyou said no more to Wang Shenqi. He was merely a junior officer, after all—allowing him into the hall for audience was already generous favor. There was no need to say more to win his heart. The Liu Chengyou of today no longer needed to invest attention in every potential prospect he encountered. Unless Wang Shenqi could achieve further merit and continue to prove his ability and value to Liu Chengyou.

Shifting his gaze from Wang Shenqi to Yang Ye, Liu Chengyou said directly: "The journey home has been arduous. You two may withdraw first and rest a while—I will speak with you in detail shortly!"

"Yes!" Yang Ye acknowledged.

"Someone—serve food in the corridor, and treat the Marquis of Guo and General Wang well!"

Guided by the palace eunuchs, Yang Ye and Wang Shenqi slowly withdrew, leaving only Wang Jingchong in the hall.

Facing Wang Jingchong, Liu Chengyou no longer revealed much emotion. He swept his gaze over him, looking at the bandages on his arm and shoulder: "I heard you were attacked by assassins—how are your wounds?"

"Thank you for Your Majesty's concern. Just two sword cuts, only skin-deep—nothing serious!" Wang Jingchong was utterly deferential.

"I heard the assassins had some background?" Liu Chengyou's gaze did not even flicker.

Nodding, Wang Jingchong looked entirely at ease: "Just a bunch of hot-blooded young men and women, bewitched by the Buddhist sect, styling themselves as chivalrous and righteous, taking it upon themselves to kill me for revenge and to rid the world of harm. I was caught off guard and they seized the chance to ambush me, hence this wound. Those people are truly not worth a mention—with a turn of my hand, I wiped them out."

Liu Chengyou's eyes narrowed slightly. According to the reports he had received, Wang Jingchong's assassination was real—but he had not been wounded by the assassins. Rather, afterward, Wang Jingchong had given himself those two cuts. What he was after was quite obvious...

As for Liu Chengyou, he was not particularly concerned with such "details," and simply followed the conversation: "It seems that in Hedong, you struck the Buddhist sect where it hurt, drawing such hatred! As for those thieving monks who refuse the court's governance, the Wude Office should continue to suppress them. As for so-called righteousness and chivalry, those rivers-and-lakes types—just exterminate them!"