Chapter 425: The Southern Tang Sovereign and Ministers Raise Hands in Congratulation

The fourth year of Qianyou in the Northern Han, high summer.

In the inner palace of Jinling, the Tang sovereign Li Jing and several ministers skilled in poetry and prose were gathered in a convivial banquet, their revealed emotions appearing most pleased.

Within the resplendent inner palace, vessels of palace-stored ice were placed all around, wisps of cold vapor rising, creating a comfortable environment amid the scorching summer heat. Taking a deep draught of the iced fine wine, then several mouthfuls of "iced plum syrup," the delight was written almost plainly upon Li Jing's face.

The Tang sovereign Li Jing had summoned his ministers to this banquet not for ordinary pleasure, but for celebration. Chiefly, he celebrated two pieces of tidings: first, the situation within Hunan's borders was growing ever more favorable; second, the Northern Han had run into trouble.

"Your Majesty!" Feng Yansi rose, cup of cold drink in hand, first casting a contemptuous glance at the ever-composed Han Xizai beside him, then said to Li Jing: "The intelligence has been confirmed. The Northern Han's war preparations these past two months have all been made to resist a Khitan invasion from the south—not, as some have worried, for some other design."

"According to our spies' investigations, since this spring the Khitan have intensified their raids along the Northern Han border. Now the entire Han court is in a panic, focused wholly northward, with no strength to look elsewhere. The matter of Hunan—our court may rest easy!"

At first, the Northern Han's great war preparations could not be entirely concealed, and so dissenting voices arose once more in the Southern Tang court. Still led by Han Xizai, they advised Li Jing to remain vigilant and heighten his guard, especially along the border where the two states met.

After a period of deliberation and deduction, synthesizing intelligence from all quarters, Han Xizai finally arrived at the direction that chilled him: the Northern Han's aim was Huainan.

Yet when he eagerly raised the alarm before Li Jing and the Southern Tang ministers, he drew only ridicule from Feng Yansi and the others—even Li Jing found his notion somewhat fanciful.

In any case, since the two states had exchanged envoys in the second year of Qianyou to restore relations and foster friendship, the Northern Han had consistently shown goodwill toward the Southern Tang. Along the Huai border, trade between the two states' merchants had flourished day by day—salt and grain from north of the river, silk brocade and tea from Jiangnan, all sold into the Central Plains, earning the Southern Tang's officials and merchants substantial profits.

And after the Northern Han proposed the "partition of Chu," the relationship between the two states took on an even more "ardent affair" quality. Sending troops to take Hunan had been championed by Feng Yansi and his faction; when Han Xizai now raised his "wild fancies" at such a time, Feng Yansi and his allies immediately seized upon his vulnerability, attacking him for putting political disagreement above the nation's great affairs.

Thus Li Jing, whose ears were ever soft, came to harbor some displeasure toward Han Xizai—though he did not rebuke him, he no longer heeded his counsel on this matter of state policy.

That day, Han Xizai, overcome with grief, left the palace in a daze, his spirit unmoored, and even shed tears. He sighed long and said: "Were Lord Song still at court, how could things have come to this?"

The Lord Song he spoke of was Song Qiqiu, founding elder of the Southern Tang, known as "the First Strategist." Though Song was of the same faction as Feng Yansi, Han Xizai still admired his wisdom and foresight, believing he too would have perceived the wrongness in all this.

Unfortunately, Song Qiqiu had been relegated to serve as Military Governor of Hongzhou, and had been there for several years now—far from the central government, he was also busy preparing grain supplies for the western campaign. And amusingly enough, Song Qiqiu's demotion to Hongzhou had come precisely from the factional strife with the Jiangbei literati bloc that Han Xizai represented.

And now, with the good tidings from the north arriving, Han Xizai's concerns were made to seem the worries of a man crying wolf.

Wei Cen, a Remonstrance Advisor and a lackey of the Song-Feng faction, also stepped forward, smiling: "The Northern Han now cannot even look after itself. Even if they truly harbored ambitions against our court, there is no need for worry. Ma Xi'e of Hunan is already near total abandonment by his men—hearts are lost. Our court may strike, and surely the proclamation alone will settle the matter, expanding our territory by a thousand li."

Even Han Xizai, sitting alone at his table, had grown much calmer in demeanor, seemingly setting aside his doubts for the time being. The sovereign and ministers of the Southern Tang now raised hands in congratulation—surely Heaven's mandate favored the Great Tang.

"Good! Good! Good!" Li Jing's face was wreathed in smiles as he called out several times, not concealing his bookish mildness, then hesitated: "Send troops now?"

Though the desire for achievement was there, from beginning to end, at every moment of decision, Li Jing showed himself hesitant and irresolute.

Seeing the Emperor's old ailment acting up again, Feng Yansi promptly urged: "Your Majesty, Generals Bian and He have now been stationed at Yuan and E for nearly two months. Chariots, horses, boats, grain, and arms are being transferred in steady succession—enough to supply the army for three months. Wang Kui and Zhou Xingfeng, who have usurped Langzhou, have also accepted our court's appointment. Given the situation in Hunan as it stands, the time has come to make the decision."

"Moreover, it is reported that the Southern Han sovereign, upon hearing of the Chu upheaval, has also sent troops to array along the border. Judging by his intentions, he likely seeks to take all of Lingnan. Therefore, our court must not hesitate, lest we miss the opportunity and let the Southern Han army seize the initiative."

Feng Yansi was growing impatient, but Li Jing's characteristic hesitation only became more pronounced. Setting down his cup, he pondered for a good while, then said slowly and evenly: "Since the lands of Ma Chu can be taken with a turn of the hand, there is no need to rush. Let us wait a while longer."

Seeing the Tang sovereign's reaction, Feng Yansi was about to press further when he heard him continue: "Huainan suffers grain shortage, with starving folk rising everywhere. Let us wait until the famine eases."

Due to unfavorable weather last year, harvests across Huainan had been poor, leading this year to a grain shortage in that fertile and wealthy region. The Southern Tang's taxation on its lower-ranking scholars and common folk was in truth quite heavy—after paying their levies, they had barely enough for subsistence rations. And it happened that this spring, the Southern Tang court began preparing for the campaign against Chu, transferring large quantities of grain from the official granaries of Huainan.

All circumstances converging at once had produced the great rising of starving folk in Huainan. Along the Han border, many Huainan commoners crossed the Huai to beg for food. In response to this situation, Liu Chengyou issued an edict to the Great Han's prefectures and counties along the Huai to distribute thin gruel as relief. Any starving refugee coming north who wished to stay would be given land and registered; those unwilling were not forcibly detained, but allowed to return south to their homes.

Whichever choice they made, it was no bad thing for the Great Han. A little thin gruel was nothing—Liu Chengyou did not make losing bargains. He rather hoped the refugees who returned to Huainan would spread word of the Great Han's benevolence and righteousness, winning hearts before his armies marched. After all, the Southern Tang's officials were not so "generous" in their relief efforts.

As for the Southern Tang merchants who came north to purchase grain, Liu Chengyou also issued an edict that they should not be obstructed or hindered—let them buy freely, only without any price controls. No matter how high a price the Huainan merchants paid for grain, once they hauled it back, they would surely sell it at an even higher price...

The malice concealed within the Northern Han, Li Jing did not perceive; rather, he praised their benevolence. Now raising the Huainan famine, he said: "Thus—dispatch envoys bearing gifts northward, to express gratitude for their aid to Huainan. Additionally, request of them the matter of sending troops to partition Chu!"

"Is Your Majesty seeking to test the Northern Han once more?" Feng Yansi seemed to grasp Li Jing's thinking.

Li Jing did not deny it. A light seemed to flash in his eyes, and a hint of eager excitement surfaced between his brows—as if thrilled by his own stratagem. He raised his hand and said: "When autumn comes and the autumn grain is stored, the Khitan may also have moved south with their armies. That will be the moment of absolute certainty for our court."

"Let Bian Hao at Yuanzhou train his troops well and make ready to strike."

Li Jing appeared to have made up his mind. Feng Yansi, thinking it over, found the reasoning rather sound as well, and did not stubbornly press his counsel—after all, it was rare for the Emperor to hold his own opinion, and to argue with him in such a situation was not what a clever man did.

"Ah, Your Majesty, there is one more matter to report!" Feng Yansi suddenly said.

"Speak, Minister!" Li Jing showed slight curiosity.

"The river garrison posts report that an official vessel has entered the river by way of Wuyue, saying it is escorting the Wuyue Princess north to Kaifeng, to wed the Han Prince of Huaiyang, Liu Chenghsun! The garrison commander dared not let it pass without authorization and has detained it, requesting the court's disposition!" Feng Yansi said.

Hearing this, Li Jing was puzzled: "Wuyue's tribute to the Central Plains has always gone by sea. Why would they make such a show of borrowing passage through our territory this time?"

Feng Yansi said: "In your minister's view, Wuyue wishes to use this to show off before our court—flaunting its marriage alliance with the Northern Han!"

"Hmph!" Li Jing gave a light snort, seeming disdainful of Qian Hongchu's little maneuver, and said: "Send word to let them pass. Our envoys may as well travel north together, to offer congratulations as well!"

"Your Majesty is most magnanimous!"