Chapter 388: Yang Ye Reports on His Duties

In the eastern wing of Chongzheng Hall was a neatly arranged waiting chamber, decorated in the same simple, unadorned style as the rest of the palace, with only a few low tables where courtiers could rest while awaiting an audience.

At the moment, apart from two palace attendants, only Generals Yang Ye and Wang Shenqi were present. The two sat facing each other, with wine, meat, and dishes laid out on the table—three meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, four courses and a soup. Both were ravenous and ate wolfishly. Wang Shenqi had been somewhat ill at ease at first, but seeing Yang Ye behave as if on campaign, he too let himself go.

The smells of wine and food intermingled, and the table was left in a state of disarray. The two clinked cups once more and drained them in one go. In the depths of winter, drinking fine wine to one's heart's content was a genuine pleasure for military men like them who guarded the northern frontier.

Wang Shenqi's expression was not as carefree as Yang Ye's—his flush seemed forced out. He was not a good drinker, but this was imperial wine, personally bestowed by the Emperor; he had to have some. Unfortunately, the imperial wine in the palace used an improved yeast, and its potency far exceeded what he had imagined.

"Brother Zhongbao, your tolerance for wine still needs work!" Yang Ye laughed, looking at Wang Shenqi's expression.

Wang Shenqi shook his head with a wry smile: "The General knows I have never been able to drink. The pleasure of fine wine and good brew is simply not meant for this humble officer!"

"If you cannot drink, then do not force it—stop when appropriate!" A voice with penetrating force rang out.

Looking up, they saw a figure in a dragon robe strolling over—it was none other than the Son of Heaven, Liu Chengyou. Yang and Wang hurriedly rose to pay their respects, but Liu Chengyou reached out a hand to stop them: "No need for formality, sit!"

Walking to the table, Zhang Dejun personally brought over a folding stool. Liu Chengyou flicked up the hem of his robe, sat down with proper bearing, and swept his gaze over the messy table, smiling lightly: "Have you eaten your fill?"

"We thank Your Majesty for the hospitality; we two have already satisfied our hunger!" Yang Ye said.

At a signal, Zhang Dejun picked up the wine flask and filled three cups. Liu Chengyou raised his cup in invitation: "I will drink mine fully; you two may do as you please!"

With that said, he drained his cup. Though the Emperor's words were courteous, Yang Ye and Wang Shenqi did not hesitate either—they downed theirs in one gulp as well.

Feeling the spiciness flow down his throat and savoring the sensation for a moment, Liu Chengyou then asked calmly: "Two years guarding the frontier—what have you come to understand?"

Facing the Emperor's question, Yang Ye seemed to be filled with emotion. After a moment's thought, meeting the Emperor's gaze, he declared with great boldness: "Your subject holds Yanmen Pass. If the Khitan come south, I can hold back a hundred thousand troops!"

Seeing his soaring spirit, Liu Chengyou did not find him boastful; instead, he lightly clapped his hands: "With such confidence from the General, I should encourage you!"

Having spoken, Yang Ye himself felt he had been a bit arrogant. He gave an embarrassed smile and explained: "Your subject's words are not reckless boasting. Yanmen has been a great pass of the realm since ancient times—its walls are impregnable, perched high on the mountain ridge, relying on the terrain for defense, with rugged and perilous roads..."

Taking a considerable amount of time, Yang Ye recounted in detail the surrounding environment of Yanmen Pass, the advantages of its terrain, the defensive arrangements, troop dispositions, grain and weapon reserves, defense strategies, and contingency measures, one by one. Yang Ye was not normally a talkative man, but when it came to matters of his duty, he spoke without pause.

Though Liu Chengyou's face showed little expression, he listened very attentively, comparing and weighing what he heard against what he already knew, gaining a deeper understanding of the situation at Yanmen Pass.

"The troops need not be many; with ample grain and weapons, I can hold Yanmen with what I have!" Yang Ye emphasized once more.

Liu Chengyou digested what Yang Ye had said, then sighed: "Of the nine great passes of the realm, Yanmen stands first. What a pity that to this day, I have never seen the towering heights and perilous narrows of that great pass!"

With that said, his manner grew even warmer, and he cast a look of approval upon Yang Ye: "I had worried that you, being young and spirited, might be proud and complacent. But now hearing you speak of Yanmen's strategic advantages and defensive preparations with such familiarity and precision, I see my concern was unfounded!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou say this, a trace of embarrassment involuntarily appeared on Yang Ye's face.

"What you have spoken of are all matters of defense—have you ever thought of going beyond the northern frontier to strike?" Liu Chengyou's demeanor suddenly changed; his words came rapidly, his gaze imposing and formidable as he pressed toward Yang Ye.

Slightly taken aback, Yang Ye met the Emperor's oppressive gaze, his expression gradually turning solemn. He thought seriously for a long while, then spoke cautiously: "Your Majesty, forgive your subject for speaking plainly—within three to five years, it is not a good opportunity to strike north through Yanmen!"

"Oh?" Liu Chengyou's reaction showed even more interest than when Yang Ye had spoken at length about Yanmen's defenses: "What is your reasoning?"

"First, the limits of the state's resources; second, insufficient troops; third, we know ourselves but not the enemy—the Khitan are not a state that can be destroyed overnight!" Yang Ye said. "Hedong possesses the natural defenses of mountains and rivers and the strength of fortified passes. Even the iron cavalry of the northern barbarians would find it hard to break through. With the court and Hedong behind me, I am fully capable of holding the line. But if we go beyond the frontier, the grasslands are vast with nothing to rely upon. Even if we could seize the lands of Yunzhong, it would not be a place where our men could hold for long."

"Moreover..." Yang Ye hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty has previously spoken of the Great Han's strategic direction—"

Liu Chengyou cut him off with a wave of his hand, glancing at Wang Shenqi who had been quietly waiting by the side, and said to Yang Ye: "You have indeed grown! The Yang Ye of the past was single-mindedly devoted to commanding troops and drilling soldiers—he would never have considered all these things!"

"Your Majesty entrusted me with independent command, and I have always harbored anxiety, as if treading on thin ice, fearing I might fail Your Majesty's trust. That is why I must consider matters all the more carefully!" Yang Ye clasped his hands in salute.

"How many troops does Daizhou have at present?" Liu Chengyou changed the subject.

The answer came just as swiftly and decisively: "After two years of rotating garrison duty and recruitment and training, the prefectural militia and the garrison troops of the various towns and forts total three thousand five hundred men—three battalions of cavalry at fifteen hundred men, and four battalions of infantry at two thousand men."

"Wang Shenqi is the Commander of the First Cavalry Battalion!" Yang Ye did not forget to promote his comrade before the Emperor.

"With the manpower of Daizhou, supporting so many troops must be very difficult!"

Yang Ye replied: "Daizhou's land is poor and its people few. Fortunately, we have the court's support and Hedong's supply of grain and fodder!"

"The coordination of money and grain from Hedong—has it not fallen short?" Liu Chengyou furrowed his brow.

Yang Ye seemed not to know how to answer this question. He stammered somewhat, gritted his teeth, and finally said: "In these past six months, the money and grain supplied by Jinyang have been only sixty percent of previous years!"

"Heh..." Liu Chengyou smiled faintly and sighed softly, a hint of melancholy seeming to cloud his thoughts.

After considering for a while, Liu Chengyou's eyes were as shrewd and bright as ever. He looked at Yang Ye with a face full of profound meaning: "When you return to Dai, you should know—guard the north but do not forget the south; defend against the external while tending to the internal!"

Yang Ye looked up in astonishment, a trace of doubt appearing on his face. He was about to ask a question, but Liu Chengyou did not intend to give him the chance. He waved his hand: "Alright, I am tired!"

With doubts and confusion in his heart, Yang Ye left the palace with Wang Shenqi, one after the other, his mind constantly replaying Liu Chengyou's final admonition, pondering its meaning.

"General!" At the palace gate, Wang Shenqi's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Turning his head, Yang Ye steadied himself and instructed: "Zhongbao, it has been years since you returned home, has it not? I will grant you half a month's leave—go home and visit your family!"

"Thank you, General!"

Taking a deep breath of the cold air beneath the palace gate, Yang Ye summoned his retainers and headed for Feng Dao's residence. It would be a good opportunity to consult and analyze the Son of Heaven's intentions with Feng Dao.