Chapter 429: Keep the Bluff Going

Even with a new favorite, Liu Chengyou only spent one day and two nights of romance with her before throwing himself back into state affairs. As for Consort Fu, Lady Fu, she was hardly the type of consort without support—in the palace, she would never lack for company, at least she still had her elder sister.

The development of the Great Han had reached an extremely critical juncture. How the next steps would be taken, and in which direction, required Liu Chengyou and the court's ministers to control and adjust at all times.

And Zhong Mo, the Southern Tang envoy, finally gained an audience with Liu Chengyou, the Son of Heaven of the Northern Han, after waiting bitterly in the Eastern Capital for more than half a month.

"I have been entangled with various affairs recently and found no time to summon you. I apologize for making Vice Minister Zhong wait so long!" Looking at Zhong Mo performing his rites in the hall, Liu Chengyou expressed his apology.

Although the Northern Han Emperor's explanation could hardly hold water and even seemed somewhat insincere, Zhong Mo still had to respond humbly: "Your Majesty is diligent in governance, with state affairs weighing heavily. That you could spare the time to receive this foreign minister fills me with gratitude!"

"Heh heh..." Liu Chengyou let out two light laughs, sizing up Zhong Mo—who did appear refined and courteous—and asked directly: "The Tang sovereign has sent the Vice Minister north; for what purpose?"

Upon the question, Zhong Mo could not help but glance up at Liu Chengyou behind the imperial desk. The Han Emperor's manner clearly showed he was feigning ignorance. But since he had asked, Zhong Mo hurriedly seized the opportunity to reply: "I was ordered by my lord to come north, inquiring about our previous discussions. In the Hunan region, the ruler is benighted and his ministers corrupt, military and civil affairs have fallen into disarray, and hundreds of thousands of common people suffer greatly. Your Majesty previously reached an agreement with our court, pledging to send troops to rescue the people from fire and water and bring them peace. We have now prepared our soldiers, horses, and provisions, ready to move at any time. I wonder when the Great Han will dispatch additional troops?"

Hearing Zhong Mo's high-sounding rhetoric, Liu Chengyou's lips curled slightly as he looked toward Feng Dao, who was also in attendance below: "Is there such a thing?"

Seeing this, Feng Dao cooperated appropriately with Liu Chengyou, saying: "Your Majesty, the false Chu king raised troops in rebellion, presumptuously proclaimed himself king, and turned against the court. Because our army's strength was insufficient, being far away in the Central Plains and unable to reach Hunan, we sent Secretariat Drafter Tao Gu as envoy last winter to Jinling to arrange this matter, inviting the Tang sovereign to send troops, to jointly rescue the people of Hunan from their dire straits..."

"Ah!" Upon hearing this, Liu Chengyou could not help but clutch his forehead, shaking his head repeatedly with a look of regret: "I actually forgot such an important matter!"

"I do recall that, to prevent the fighting at the time, I dispatched two thousand troops to garrison Lizhou!" Liu Chengyou said.

Feng Dao replied with a calm expression: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Zhong Mo, standing below, watched this pair—one young, one old—playing off each other between sovereign and minister, and felt uncertain about what to make of it. Such acting was overly exaggerated; what could it possibly mean?

Turning his attention back to Zhong Mo, Liu Chengyou wore a look of difficulty on his face. After thinking for a moment, he said: "Regarding the matter of Hunan, I still need to consult with the various ministers before making a decision. Once I have reached a consensus on my side, I will contact you again. Please ask the Tang sovereign to wait a while longer."

"This..." As Liu Chengyou's words fell, Zhong Mo's eyes rolled slightly, and he too put on a troubled expression: "Your Majesty, Jinling and the Eastern Capital are after all a thousand li apart; travel takes time, and the transmission of messages is inconvenient. When I return to court, I still need to report to my own Son of Heaven. My own toil and travel is a trivial matter; I only fear delaying matters of military and state."

"Hmm... your consideration is not without reason!" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou nodded with a contemplative look. After thinking for a long while, a gleam passed through his eyes, and he said to Zhong Mo: "Very well, when you return to court, reply to the Tang sovereign that it is now high summer, the heat is unbearable, and this is truly not the time to move troops. Better to wait until autumn when the weather turns cool, and the year's grain has been stored, and provisions are ample, before launching the campaign. Of course, if the Tang sovereign cannot wait and wishes to catch the enemy off guard, rescuing the scholars and people of Hunan from fire and water, my two thousand troops in Lizhou can cooperate with the Tang army in battle!"

"Reply to the Tang sovereign just like this—I will absolutely not break our previous agreement!" Liu Chengyou emphasized once more at the end.

Zhong Mo mulled over the Han Emperor's words for a moment, looking thoughtful, then clasped his hands and responded: "Yes!"

Having settled this matter, as if a burden had been lifted from his heart, Liu Chengyou appeared much more relaxed. He said to Zhong Mo again: "While in the Eastern Capital, I have heard of Jinling's prosperity, said to be unmatched in the world. But since ascending the throne, I have worked diligently on development and pride myself that the Eastern Capital is no less than Jinling. Why not have Vice Minister Zhong stay in the Eastern Capital a while longer? I will have the Ministry of Rites assign a special attendant to show you around the surroundings and enjoy some sightseeing."

"I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's kind hospitality!" Upon hearing this, Zhong Mo quickly expressed his refusal: "The Eastern Capital is the greatest city in the Central Plains, and I have already experienced the splendor of its scenery and customs. However, it has been nearly a month since I departed from Jinling, and I urgently need to return to report Your Majesty's intentions to my sovereign. Therefore, I can only presume to disappoint Your Majesty's gracious offer!"

"What a pity!" Liu Chengyou sighed: "Since Vice Minister Zhong has a mission to fulfill, I will not insist on detaining you. If the hospitality has been inadequate, please do not take offense!"

"How would I dare?" Zhong Mo displayed exceptional humility, bowing as he said: "I take my leave!"

Only after Zhong Mo had left the hall did Liu Chengyou resume his usual composed demeanor, sneering: "This Zhong Mo is deeply afraid I would keep him in the Eastern Capital!"

"This man came bearing a mission, intending to probe our court in many ways. Now that he has gained something, he naturally hastens to report back." Feng Dao said.

His eyes slightly narrowing, Liu Chengyou asked Feng Dao: "What does Minister Feng think—after the Tang envoy returns to Jinling and reports my reply, what will the false Tang sovereign and his ministers think?"

Old and cunning as he was, Feng Dao had witnessed the Son of Heaven's performance just now and had played his supporting role accordingly. Now, upon the question, he responded leisurely: "When the Tang envoy came, Your Majesty first avoided meeting him on various pretexts; then in the hall just now, Your Majesty showed hesitation several times, with evasive words, and after speaking, wished to keep him longer."

"In my humble opinion, if Zhong Mo reports his entire experience to the Tang sovereign, their sovereign and ministers will surely conclude that our court is urgently dealing with the Khitan threat, lacks the strength to look south, and yet does not wish them to swallow Hunan alone—hence these repeated delaying tactics. In this way, the false Tang sovereign and ministers will be even more at ease and will throw themselves wholeheartedly into conquering Hunan!"

"Minister Feng is Minister Feng!" Hearing this reply, Liu Chengyou could not help but praise: "Insight into the human heart, analysis of the situation—penetrating to the very core!"

"Your Majesty overpraises me; I dare not accept!" Feng Dao said with a smile.

Liu Chengyou sat in silence, a thoughtful expression on his face, as if still considering something. Seeing this, Feng Dao took the initiative to speak: "Your Majesty, I have a question in my mind."

"Oh, let Minister Feng speak." Liu Chengyou was somewhat curious.

First bowing to Liu Chengyou, Feng Dao then voiced the question in his heart: "Since the beginning of this year, the Great Han's energy has been focused mainly on defending against the Khitan in the north. If the Khitan invade, we will have no strength to attend to the south. Yet from Your Majesty's intentions, you still wish to lure the false Tang into attacking Chu. Given the Ma Chu's current situation, they will surely be unable to withstand the Tang army. The Hunan region will inevitably fall into their hands—would that not expand their territory and strengthen their power?"

Hearing Feng Dao's concern, Liu Chengyou chuckled lightly, raising his hand and clenching it into a fist, speaking with great confidence: "The situation in Hunan, in my view, is also extremely complex. The Ma Chu regime is naturally tottering, but once the false Tang steps in, if they handle things even slightly improperly, it will turn into a quagmire. The Hunan scheme was originally a strategy to divide their forces and drain their money and grain, so as to reduce the resistance our court will face when attacking Huainan."

"Even if the false Tang truly takes all of Hunan, given the accumulated ills of that region, whether they can digest it and extract taxes and soldiers from it remains an open question. Even if the false Tang truly has the ability to stabilize the various prefectures of Hunan, it would hardly be easy!"

Liu Chengyou's tone had already taken on a hint of cunning: "I placed two thousand troops in Lizhou—they cannot decide the fate of Hunan, but if I wish to stir up chaos there, that should not be a problem. Moreover, the Ma clan's forces are now divided and disloyal; there are not a few who can be exploited!"

After hearing Liu Chengyou's words, Feng Dao inwardly marveled at the Son of Heaven's fearsome scheming. Bending his old back, he nevertheless flattered: "Your Majesty's great talent and strategy, embracing the four seas—the whole world lies within your heart!"

"What a pity though!" Liu Chengyou could not help but sigh again.

Feng Dao asked: "Is Your Majesty still worried about the Khitan?"

"If not for the barbarian troublemakers, the false Tang taking Hunan and sinking into the quagmire, while I take Huainan—would that not be the best of both worlds?" Liu Chengyou said with resentment: "Just wait and see—one day, I will thoroughly eliminate the threat from the north."

To this, Feng Dao could only offer words of comfort: "With Your Majesty's great strategy, given time, it will surely be achieved!"

Not dwelling further on this issue, Liu Chengyou looked at Feng Dao and changed the subject: "In the Hall of State Affairs now, those bearing the title of Chief Minister number only you, Li Tao, and Fan Zhi. Duke of Fufeng (Su Yugui) no longer handles affairs, and Duke of Changguo (Wang Zhang), long ill and unable to recover, has submitted a memorial requesting retirement. I have already approved his resignation at his original rank to return home and recuperate. I intend to add two chancellors with the title of Chief Minister—do you have any candidates, Minister Feng?"

Liu Chengyou's words caught Feng Dao's attention. For three generations, civil officials had been weak; even those elevated to chancellor were often despised and suppressed by military men. Since the Qianyou era, the Son of Heaven had gathered military power into his own hands, suppressed the warriors, opened the civil examinations, and greatly compiled historical records—the status of literati was gradually rising, and within the court, the power of the chancellors was also continuously strengthening.

However, Zhao Ying's words before leaving the capital had served as a reminder to the old fox. Feng Dao said cautiously: "Matters concerning the appointment of chancellors—I dare not speak recklessly. In selecting the worthy and promoting the able, I beg Your Majesty to decide!"

"Heh heh... I am but one man with two eyes; how could I know all the worthy and able in the entire court? Better that you all deliberate together!"