Chapter 440: Resolution to March South

After returning to the palace, Liu Chengyou did not go back to Chongzheng Hall, but went directly to the Bureau of Military Affairs, where he, together with Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs Zheng Renhui and the various secretaries and staff officers, sorted through military affairs. The Bureau of Military Affairs had always been the center of the Great Han's military and political administration, and after troops were dispatched, its weight grew even heavier—all military and political orders concerning troops in the Central Plains and Hebei originated from here.

Intelligence on the Khitan came in succession from the north—border garrisons and military scouts each reported according to what they knew. As information accumulated, Liu Chengyou gained a more comprehensive understanding of the situation in the Yan region a thousand li away.

Khitan military strength had contracted across the board. Within fifty li around Youzhou, Liao cavalry were scarce, and around the Han army's defensive line south of Yan, there was no trace of them at all. The new Khitan emperor, Yelu Jing, had received homage at Miyun in Tanzhou and formally ascended the throne, with civil and military officials bestowing upon him the honorific title of Emperor Tian Shun.

Zhao Kuangzan sent Commander Zhao Siwan with light cavalry north to probe, and it was only after passing Huairou and approaching Miyun that Khitan cavalry finally intercepted them. A fierce battle ensued—the barbarian horsemen were utterly frenzied this time, desperately clinging to the fight for over ten li. According to Zhao Kuangzan's report, although they had killed nearly two hundred, they themselves had lost over a hundred riders. It should be noted that the cavalry under Zhao Siwan's command were the strongest fighting force in the Yan army.

Though this was only a small glimpse, it showed that the Liao army's will had not been completely dissolved. This, in turn, strengthened Liu Chengyou's resolve to march south by another measure.

That night, Liu Chengyou's spirits remained in a state of high excitement. He found time to make a circuit of the State Finance Commission, and incidentally called on Fan Zhi, who was still in the Hall of State Affairs, to study the grain and money problem together. Fighting wars meant fighting grain and money, fighting national strength—this concept had long been rooted in Liu Chengyou's mind. In such times, those who forgot sleep and food were hardly limited to the Bureau of Military Affairs and the Ministry of War.

When Liu Chengyou returned to the Bureau of Military Affairs, he was surprised to find Guo Wei, clad in purple robes, already back at his post, and Wei Renpu had also been summoned, earnestly listening and inquiring into the details of military affairs...

Liu Chengyou was deeply grateful to his ministers for their tireless devotion. After a heartfelt commendation, he ordered midnight snacks and drinks prepared for them, and joined the discussion himself. The sovereign and his ministers then directly began sketching out the concrete matters of the southern campaign. In the latter half of the night, when he could no longer hold out, he let the ministers go rest, and Liu Chengyou himself only dozed briefly in the bureau's inner chamber.

By dawn, when the sky was still hazy, Liu Chengyou returned to the main hall, washed up briefly, ate, donned his dragon robe, and immediately summoned the assembled ministers to Guangzheng Hall.

It was the same group as yesterday, but as the civil and military officials gradually arrived at the waiting hall, they discovered that Guo Wei, who had not shown his face at court for a long time, was already seated. Many faces showed surprise; after their initial astonishment, the civil officials understood, and went forward to offer greetings and congratulations. As for the likes of Shang Hongqian, Wang Yin, and Du Hanhui, they cheerfully chatted with Guo Wei about old times in the waiting hall.

After more than half a year of seclusion, Guo Wei's prestige at court did not seem to have been overly diminished—this was the difference between men.

"Commissioner Guo enjoys popular esteem; Your Majesty should be on guard against him." This was the bold secret memorial that Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang Jingchong had previously submitted. Liu Chengyou had then very calmly instructed him to keep watch on his behalf...

Inside Guangzheng Hall, Liu Chengyou, in his emerald crown and golden robe, ascended directly to the imperial throne. After receiving the court's homage, he first pointed specifically at Guo Wei and explained: "Commissioner Guo has been recuperating from illness for half a year. Now that he has recovered and returned, he resumes control of military affairs at the Bureau of Military Affairs!"

Having said this, he swept his gaze around the hall, his expression turning stern, and declared in a loud voice: "Having weighed all opinions and considered the overall situation of north and south, I have decided to abandon the north in favor of the south. Our military might turns its edge, to conquer the false Tang and take all the land north of the Yangtze!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" The first to rise and shout was none other than Wang Pu. The man was visibly agitated—his expression weary, his eyes bloodshot, clearly having not slept well—but his bearing was filled with excitement.

"Don't rush to sing praises!" Pausing briefly, Liu Chengyou's voice sank and his countenance tightened, radiating an aura that scorned all directions: "Let me say this in advance—abandoning the golden opportunity for a northern expedition was the most difficult decision I have ever made. But the plan is now set. All of you must unite as one, plan with strategy, conquer Huainan, and water our horses in the Yangtze!"

"As commanded!" At these words, the assembled civil and military officials answered in unison.

With the strategy fixed, Liu Chengyou immediately began deliberating with his ministers on the concrete matters of the southern campaign. A strategic shift was not something Liu Chengyou could implement with a snap of his fingers and an imperial edict. From top to bottom, it involved every aspect and all the ministries of the court. Fortunately, the Great Han court was currently in a state of war, and the various bureaus had already been operating for some time around resisting the Khitan.

After deliberation, several decrees were decided in the hall and issued immediately.

First, an edict ordered the Prince of Yan, Zhao Kuangzan, and Commander-in-Chief of the Jibei Circuit Field Headquarters, He Fujin, to continue strengthening defensive preparations against the Liao and to closely monitor the movements of the Khitan armies at Tan and Ji.

Second, the imperial army and garrison troops along the Yellow River line were each to return to their original posts, and mobilization in all other prefectures was temporarily halted. The Xiaodi Army, Husheng Army, Fengguo Army, and the Imperial Guard Dragon Cavalry Horse Army, which had previously marched north under the command of Wang Jun and Murong Yanzhao, were to turn around and head south. Nearby prefectures and counties were ordered to collect boats and requisition civilian vessels, transporting troops by water route to assemble at Suzhou. The entire Jingjiang Army was also to move southward.

Third, shipments of grain, fodder, and military equipment to Hebei were to cease. Supplies already dispatched—those that had arrived were to be unloaded into storage, while those still in transit were likewise redirected and sent south. Grain and equipment subsequently raised in the Eastern Capital were to be transported south along the canal.

Fourth, the two capitals and the various prefectures and garrisons of Henan were each assigned quotas to conscript fifty thousand civilian laborers, to meet the needs of the great army. The Han army on the Huai River was to scout enemy conditions, heighten vigilance, and prepare to receive the central imperial army's arrival from the south.

Fifth, on the Hunan side, Defense Commissioner Cao Yin of Lizhou was to coordinate with Wang Kui and Zhou Xingfeng of Langzhou to manufacture some conflicts and incidents, tying down the Tang army. Naturally, this was to be done covertly.

Sixth, envoys were to be dispatched to the two states of Nanping and Wuyue, to plot great matters together.

Seventh, the military and political command system for the southern campaign was settled. For Commander-in-Chief of the Huainan Circuit Field Headquarters, after deliberation and consideration, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard Wang Jun was still chosen, with Murong Yanzhao as Chief Inspector of the field headquarters. Minister of Works Wang Pu was appointed Fiscal Commissioner for Land and Water Transport of Huainan Circuit, responsible for the army's logistical supply. The chancellors were to remain in the Eastern Capital, responsible for raising all types of supplies and equipment, with Wei Renpu concurrently serving as Patrol Inspector of the capital. Guo Wei, in his capacity as Commissioner of Military Affairs, was to handle all military orders nationwide. Additionally, the imperial uncle Murong Yanchao was elevated by Liu Chengyou to Governor of Kaifeng—that old man Hou Yi had served too long, so he was moved to make room...

These several military and political decrees, on the whole, still appeared conservative, retaining the foundation for resisting the Khitan at any time in Hebei. They had to be conservative—the Khitan's heavy forces still along the Yan Mountains line warranted such vigilance. And the intensity of early warning in the north would have to be adjusted according to the Khitan's situation.

This was also the reason why Liu Chengyou had likewise announced a personal expedition to Huainan, yet temporarily had Wang Jun and Murong Yanzhao commanding the campaign at the front. Until the threat from the north was fully confirmed as eliminated, Liu Chengyou still intended to hold his position in the Eastern Capital.

Under the Son of Heaven's will, the Secretariat-Chancellery, the State Finance Commission, and the Bureau of Military Affairs moved like machines wound up with springs, accelerating into motion on the channel of war, with a series of military and political decrees transmitted north and south. Once his resolve was fixed, Liu Chengyou instead felt relaxed, and began to devote himself wholeheartedly to the Huainan strategy.

Before long, he received a memorial from Commander-in-Chief of Jibei He Fujin, reporting that the Khitan emperor had sent an envoy to court, and that he had already dispatched soldiers to escort him to the capital.

That very afternoon, the Liao envoy arrived in the capital and was immediately summoned into the palace by Liu Chengyou. Liu Chengyou had a premonition that what the Liao envoy brought was absolutely good news.

Since the establishment of the Northern Han in the twelfth year of Tianfu, nearly five years had passed, and during that time the Northern Han and the Khitan had been enemies with a hatred as deep as the sea, attacking each other in turn—not a single year of peace on the border. Liu Chengyou's attitude toward foreign powers was also hard, hard to the very end. After several years apart, this was the first time envoys had exchanged visits, and it was the Khitan who had taken the initiative to send one.

In Chongzheng Hall, with Wei Renpu and Guo Wei in attendance, Liu Chengyou received the envoy—the Liao's Left Reception Commissioner, Xiao Husi.

Xiao Husi had originally been the Vice Censor-in-Chief of Liao, in overall charge of the pastoral tribes' registers, and had been among the ministers of the southern campaign. When Yelu Jing ascended the throne, deeming him talented, he was transferred to Left Reception Commissioner and sent on the mission to the Eastern Capital.

He was a middle-aged man with thick facial hair and sharply defined features, his eyes bright and spirited. After entering the hall, he looked around, and facing the scrutiny of the Northern Han sovereign and ministers, he remained as calm as the wind.

Reaching the center of the hall, he bowed and said in a booming voice: "Your subject Xiao Husi, by order of the Great Liao's Emperor Tian Shun, extends greetings to the Great Han Emperor!"

From his bearing, one could see pride—whether it was the arrogance the Khitan had cultivated toward the Central Plains dynasties over the past decade or more, or a deliberate act to avoid diminishing their prestige, was unclear.

"Rise!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand, feigning ignorance as he asked: "Emperor Tian Shun? If I remember correctly, was not your Khitan ruler's honorific title Tianlu? When was it changed, so suddenly?"