Chapter 406: Success Achieved

Tao Gu did not wake until the next day, when the sun was already three poles high. The aftertaste of a night of heavy drinking was far from pleasant—his mouth was sour and bitter, his stomach churned with foul gas. Wherever his hands touched, they met fine, soft, smooth skin, and his numb, aching lower back reminded him that the tremendous exertions of the previous night were no longer something a man of his age could indulge in.

On the white collar, two vivid splashes of bright red caught the eye—Tao Gu had clearly gotten his money's worth.

Though the softness of the brocade couch and the charm of the dancing girls were easy to linger over, Tao Gu's old face flushed red as he hurriedly straightened his clothes, abandoned the two beauties, and rushed out the door without even waiting for someone to help him wash up.

He asked for Feng Yansi and only then learned that Chancellor Feng had already gone into the palace to seek an audience with the Tang sovereign. Upon hearing this, his expression turned panicked; he hastily dropped a couple of words, covered his face, and left, looking deeply ashamed.

At that moment, inside the Southern Tang palace, in the Chengxin Hall, the Tang sovereign Li Jing was calmly focusing his mind, brush in hand, practicing calligraphy and composing poetry. His expression was meticulous, his movements composed and unhurried—though his peripheral gaze kept flickering toward Feng Yansi, ears pricked to listen to his report.

"So you're saying that the proposal to partition Chu was simply the decision of the Northern Han's young emperor acting on his own, and it did not receive the support of the civil and military officials?" Setting down his brush, Li Jing took a silk kerchief to wipe his hands, sat down, picked up his teacup, and took a couple of sips before asking.

In that unhurried tone, one could clearly detect a hint of expectation. Feng Yansi immediately gave Li Jing an affirmative answer: "Exactly so!"

"What Tao Gu said is not false?"

Feng Yansi once again bolstered his confidence: "Your Majesty, in your minister's view, this Tao Gu has a modicum of literary talent but base character. I befuddled him with wine and seduced him with beauty—what he said should indeed be true!"

"As for the situation in the Northern Han, your minister has also heard something of it: the sovereign is young and the state is doubtful, the ruler is weak and the ministers are strong. The young Son of Heaven is a formidable figure, fond of martial exploits, and naturally unwilling to be constrained by the civil and military officials. In these past few years, the old ministers who helped found the state have either been demoted and punished or transferred to posts far away—this sufficiently proves how fierce the struggle between ruler and ministers in the Northern Han is, and that their court is not as stable as it appears on the surface."

"And this move against Hunan was ordered by the Northern Han emperor by force while the Commissioner of Military Affairs Guo Wei, who holds military power, was away on an inspection tour. He did not even dispatch the imperial army from Kaifeng, but directly issued orders for An Shenqi, who guards Xiangzhou, to send out two thousand men."

"These circumstances, taken together with what Tao Gu said, do match up. Therefore, there is no hidden conspiracy behind the Northern Han's proposal to partition Chu. If our court were to take the initiative to send troops to swallow Hunan, we might have to worry about Northern Han interference—but now that they have proposed it themselves, it actually relieves our concerns!"

Hearing Feng Yansi's words, Li Jing nodded unconsciously, the hesitation on his face lessening considerably. After thinking a moment, he asked again: "But according to the Northern Han's proposal, after seizing the Chu lands, everything north of Tanzhou goes to the Northern Han, while our court can only take those poor and barren prefectures in the south. The Northern Han's young emperor seems to have rather a large appetite!"

Hearing Li Jing speak this way, Feng Yansi felt a complete weight lift from his heart. He knew the emperor was tempted, and his political scheme this time could be declared a success.

A slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, Feng Yansi wore the look of a deep schemer as he said to Li Jing: "These things can all be agreed to—but in the end, which prefectures and counties belong to whom will depend on the strength in hand. Though the northern troops are strong, here in the south, our Great Tang has the advantages of climate and terrain, as well as the strength of our naval forces. The Han army will find it extremely difficult to contend with us!"

Feng Yansi's words sent Li Jing back into deep thought. After a moment, a trace of confusion actually appeared in his eyes—clearly, his mind had wandered...

"Your Majesty!" Feng Yansi called softly.

Snapping back to attention, Li Jing looked at Feng Yansi with the air of one who had made up his mind, and said: "Minister Feng, I have decided to accept the Northern Han's proposal and send troops into Hunan."

"However, we must not act rashly!" Having just released a surge of bold ambition, he reverted to his usual mild, bookish manner, looking somewhat lacking in confidence: "On the Hunan front, send more spies to ascertain the situation there. The court can prepare grain and military equipment to be transported to the border. We are currently in the farming season—once the spring plowing is finished, then we can discuss dispatching generals and troops."

In Feng Yansi's view, once a decision was made, one should act swiftly and seize the initiative first. But he also understood Li Jing's temperament, and since he had spoken this way, it was not appropriate to press the matter further.

"What of the Han envoy Tao Gu?" Li Jing said.

At the mention of Tao Gu, Feng Yansi stroked his beard and smiled: "He is perhaps at this very moment in your minister's residence, indulging in the warm embrace of comfort and beauty!"

"Haha!" Li Jing was amused as well, and said in a mocking tone: "For the Han emperor to use such a man who loves wine and lust as his envoy—he must himself be a man of flashy show without substance, one who craves glory and grand achievements."

Liu Chengyou's victory at the Battle of Luancheng had startled the world back then, and its deterrent effect had lingered for some years—it was only that as time passed, the impact was no longer felt so deeply.

"Your Majesty speaks truly! After all, he is not of the legitimate Han line, nor does he understand court ritual—in essence, he is still just a military man!" Feng Yansi said.

"Your Majesty, it is time to receive this Tao Gu!" Feng Yansi reminded.

"Indeed! Since we have agreed to partition Chu, the specific details of dispatching troops should be settled in advance!" Li Jing said: "Send someone to summon him to the palace!"

At the guest residence, seeing that someone had come from the Tang palace, Tao Gu felt a surge of excitement. He tidied himself up and went straight to the Tang palace for an audience.

Once in the palace, Tao Gu resumed his solemn, dignified bearing—though when facing Feng Yansi, his eyes flickered and he dared not meet his gaze. This caused him to appear somewhat weak during the negotiations with the Southern Tang ruler and ministers over the joint attack on Chu.

For this mission of Tao Gu's, Liu Chengyou had granted him full authority, letting him deceive the Southern Tang at his complete discretion and carry out this scheme of fraud.

On matters of detail, Tao Gu appeared to haggle over every trifle, but at every critical juncture, he showed weakness and a lack of confidence.

In the end, the result was that Li Jing and his ministers were satisfied—it was basically settled that the Southern Tang would take the lead in the attack on Chu. And in the division of spoils, Tao Gu "made the decision" to yield the city of Changsha...

The Southern Tang ruler and ministers were delighted, not knowing that no matter what result was negotiated, it made no difference to Liu Chengyou and the Han court.

Swallow Rock, as an important ferry crossing and garrison base for Jinling, bustled with people coming and going, boats plying back and forth—a scene of great liveliness.

With Tao Gu's eye, he could see that this place was strategically perilous and suited for military use, but he could not discern how its defenses were arranged. Of course, he did not particularly care either.

At the ferry, the large vessel reserved exclusively for the Han envoy was being maneuvered into position, awaiting his boarding.

But before crossing north, the Southern Tang chancellor Feng Yansi sent someone to deliver several gifts to Tao Gu. Though he had not come to see him off in person, it still counted as a show of sincerity.

A hundred taels of gold, a thousand taels of silver, a hundred bolts of silk—and those two dancing girls he had bedded.

"Governor Tao, my master says he could not see you off in person and hopes you will forgive him. He has instructed me to tell you: may the friendship between our two sides never be forgotten!" One of Feng Yansi's retainers said to Tao Gu with utmost respect.

Tao Gu's spirits seemed rather low, and it showed quite plainly, but one does not strike a smiling face. He could only force a reply: "Go back and tell Chancellor Feng that this envoy accepts his goodwill!"

Only after boarding the vessel, raising the sails, and heading north until they reached the middle of the Yangtze, did Tao Gu, standing at the ship's rail, burst into hearty laughter, utterly delighted, crying out inwardly: I have succeeded!

Thinking back on his "hardships" during this time in Jinling—the drinking, the socializing, the sacrifices of his person, the battle of wits and hearts with the Southern Tang ruler and ministers—Tao Gu felt he ought to reward himself handsomely.

Returning to the cabin, he summoned the two dancing girls Feng Yansi had given him to accompany him in drinking and merrymaking. After enjoying a performance of song and dance, Tao Gu had one of the beauties come sit beside him.

The young woman came over gracefully and poured two cups of wine. Tao Gu drank a cross-cup toast with her, then suddenly reached out a finger to lift her chin and asked casually: "When Chancellor Feng gave you to me, he didn't have any other designs, did he?"

She was indeed a singing girl trained by a great house—young though she was, she was quick-witted. At his words, she immediately looked as if she might cry, kneeling and saying: "Your servant and her companion have already given body and heart to our master—how could we harbor any other thoughts?"

How could Tao Gu withstand such a delicate, charming display? He immediately pulled her into his embrace and comforted her at length.