Chapter 449: The Eighteenth Day, the Imperial Carriage Proceeds to Huainan

"Your Majesty, Hanlin Academician and Vice Minister of Rites Xu Taifu has returned from his mission to the Liao. He is at the palace gate, awaiting an audience to report!" Palace Eunuch Zhang Dejun hurried inside, addressing Liu Chengyou, who was bent over his desk reviewing state affairs.

Upon hearing the report, Liu Chengyou set down his vermilion brush and immediately ordered: "Have him come directly to Chongzheng Hall. I want to see him. Also, summon the chancellors as well!"

"Yes!"

Half a month had passed since the Han–Liao peace talks, when Xu Taifu had been ordered north to pay respects to the Liao emperor and deliver the state letter. Only now had he returned.

During this period, under the deliberate restraint of both sides' upper echelons, the situation in the north had further eased. Though spies and agents from both sides remained active along the border, the memorials received all showed the pace of war steadily winding down. By now, the cessation of hostilities was all but settled.

Even so, Liu Chengyou still harbored some concern over the northern situation—especially now that the Huainan campaign had already erupted, greater caution was needed. Thus, he placed great importance on the returning envoy Xu Taifu; he needed to verify once more from his mouth the Khitan's attitude and circumstances.

Soon, the military and civil chancellors gathered together. Taking pity on the Han envoy Xu Taifu's hardships, Liu Chengyou bestowed imperial cuisine upon him as a mark of favor. In this autumn-to-winter season, traveling back and forth between north and south, a round trip of over two thousand li, weary from the journey—for a man of Xu Taifu's age, it was no small feat.

"Minister Xu, as the state's envoy, you have traveled back and forth—your efforts are appreciated!" In the hall, Liu Chengyou offered words of encouragement with a gracious demeanor, then granted him a seat as a sign of honor.

In the great hall, among the outer officials, aside from the chancellors and the commanders of the two bureaus, few civil or military officers had the qualification to sit.

Xu Taifu immediately demurred modestly, then, with some agitation, expressed that serving the state was merely his duty, before carefully taking his seat to respond to questions. As for Xu Taifu, he had entered official service since the Later Tang era, weathering over twenty years of bureaucratic vicissitudes through shifting regimes. Yet only now, honored by the emperor's command to go abroad on a diplomatic mission and participate in matters of military and state, did his heart stir with some waves of emotion.

"Your Majesty, I traveled north with the Liao envoy Xiao Husi, meeting the Khitan emperor at Miyun, delivering the state letter, and discussing friendship! From what I observed, the Khitan's resolve for peace and cessation of war is firm—there should be nothing amiss!" Knowing what Liu Chengyou wanted to ask, Xu Taifu reported immediately.

"And what of the new Khitan ruler?" Liu Chengyou thought for a moment, then asked.

At this mention, a strange expression flickered across Xu Taifu's face. He clasped his hands and said in a clear voice: "Your Majesty, the Khitan ruler is young, newly ascended, and does not personally attend to state affairs. In my journey north, I saw the Khitan ruler only twice in total; the rest of the peace negotiations were handled by the Khitan minister Yelu Wuzhi. As for the Khitan ruler, he delights in heavy drinking and hunting games. The second time I saw him, he was leading his personal guard on a hunt south of Yan, and he invited me along to display his military might!"

"This Khitan ruler—can he truly be so neglectful of state affairs?" Hearing this, the assembled ministers were somewhat surprised.

Wei Renpu's attention, however, was fixed on another point: "That Yelu Wuzhi?"

"Chancellor Wei is indeed astute!" Xu Taifu said with a smile, though he quickly turned solemn: "According to what I learned through inquiries at Miyun, the Huoshen Lake Rebellion was instigated by the Khitan imperial clansman Yelu Chage and others, who raised troops in revolt and killed Yelu Ruan. Amid that great upheaval, it was this Yelu Wuzhi who gathered the Khitan imperial guard—the Pishi Army—and united with the Khitan ruler Yelu Jing and the armies of the various tribes to surround and annihilate the rebels, swiftly suppressing the rebellion!"

"Yelu Jing's accession was also spearheaded by this Yelu Wuzhi, who supported his rise to the throne. After Yelu Jing proclaimed himself emperor, he promised to bestow all the rebels' property upon Yelu Wuzhi as reward, but he refused—instead suggesting the Khitan ruler reward other meritorious officers and soldiers. The Khitan ruler then entrusted him with all state affairs. Through his stewardship, uniting civil and military officials, the Khitan's southern prefectures, counties, and tribes were kept from collapsing into chaos."

With Xu Taifu's explanation, the assembled civil and military officials finally understood. Liu Chengyou, lost in thought, remarked: "During this time, the name of Yelu Wuzhi has also spread southward. From the looks of it, it is this Yelu Wuzhi who has performed the heaven-upholding feat of salvaging the Khitan's national fortunes!"

"In response to Your Majesty, that is fair to say!" Xu Taifu's tone was quite certain.

Having said this, a trace of hesitation appeared on Xu Taifu's face. Liu Chengyou noticed and asked: "Minister Xu, have you discovered something else?"

"Your Majesty, I stayed at Miyun for six days. From what I observed, the Khitan ruler shows signs of neglecting state affairs—he does not seem a wise sovereign. But upon deeper reflection, since his accession, he has treated civil and military nobles generously, rewarded troops and soldiers, and entrusted all state affairs to worthy ministers. Such conduct..."

"It smacks of biding one's time and hiding one's capabilities!" Liu Chengyou's face also showed a flicker of interest.

His gaze drifting slightly, Liu Chengyou seemed to have some personal experience with this matter. Since the Son of Heaven said nothing, the ministers dared not pursue the topic—all of them played politics, and in such matters, one should not appear too clever.

Liu Chengyou quickly snapped back to attention: "What is the situation on the Khitan side now?"

At the question, Xu Taifu said: "In recent days, our court has lifted border alerts and suspended troop movements, and the Khitan ruler and his ministers have gradually let down their guard!"

"Just before I returned south, the Khitan ruler had already secretly led his forces back north—reportedly because the Supreme Capital was unsettled, and there was a Xi rebellion within the realm!"

"If it was a secret return north, and it concerns their domestic situation, then as a matter of state secrecy, how did Vice Minister Xu come to learn of it?" Guo Wei suddenly asked.

Xu Taifu said: "I learned it from the mouth of a Khitan nobleman left to garrison Tanzhou—"

"Hiss..." At this point, Xu Taifu startled himself: "Could it be that the Khitan deliberately revealed this to me? Could the Khitan have some other scheme?"

Guo Wei smiled lightly: "That would seem to be the case! However, it is not quite as Vice Minister Xu suspects!"

Turning to Liu Chengyou, Guo Wei reported: "Your Majesty, according to reports from the Military Intelligence Bureau and the front lines, the Khitan troops' return north is indeed a fact. And I suspect that the Khitan, by revealing this through Vice Minister Xu, sought to put our court at ease. It is clear that the Khitan is equally wary of the Great Han!"

"Now, on the Khitan side, the one in charge of southern military and civil affairs is named Yelu Talie, appointed by the Khitan ruler as Great King of the Southern Division. Their Southern Commissioner of Military Affairs, Yelu Anbo, has been stripped of military power and transferred back to the Supreme Capital for a post." Xu Taifu added further.

"This Yelu Talie—who is he?" Liu Chengyou asked.

The assembled ministers all shook their heads. The personnel situation among the Khitan was indeed something the Great Han's officials knew little about.

Xu Taifu then said: "I only know that this Yelu Talie is also of Khitan imperial blood, but he had previously remained obscure. He only entered official service at the age of forty, and within a few years—he is a man of no renown. However, this man was recommended to the Khitan ruler by Yelu Wuzhi!"

"If that is so, he must not be underestimated! Sometimes, the more such men of no standing, the more vigilance they warrant—we must guard against them well!" Liu Chengyou said: "Furthermore, the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Wude Office shall henceforth conduct more detailed investigations into Khitan officials, nobles, and their domestic situation, and compile them into files!"

"Yes!" Guo Wei acknowledged the order.

"Minister Xu has rendered meritorious service on this mission to the Liao. I shall reward you—ten bolts of fine brocade, fifty thousand in cash, and promotion to Right Remonstrance Grand Master, to participate in deliberations on state affairs!" Liu Chengyou rewarded him according to his merits.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" A hint of excitement showed on Xu Taifu's countenance as he hurriedly rose to bow in thanks. However, he followed up: "Your Majesty, at this moment we are in the midst of the southern campaign, with military expenditures running heavy and state coffers insufficient. What I did was merely my duty—how dare I claim merit to receive Your Majesty's generous rewards? Please, let the bestowed money and silk be applied to military use!"

Seeing Xu Taifu so proactive, Liu Chengyou was surprised and gained even more appreciation for him. He chuckled lightly: "Minister Xu understands the greater good. For this sentiment, I shall express thanks on behalf of the soldiers at the front!"

Having said this, Liu Chengyou fell silent for a few moments, then swept his gaze around the hall and said solemnly: "Now that the northern threat has temporarily subsided, the various military prefectures and towns of Hebei may stand down from war preparations. The conscripted soldiers and levied laborers of each prefecture shall be registered and then released to return to their villages. Let us observe the northern situation a while longer to see how the Khitan reacts to our campaign against the Tang. Once we confirm there is no danger, the northern supply lines may be redirected southward!"

"The State Finance Commission's budget office shall begin calculating how much money and grain was consumed in total for defending against the Khitan in the north—I want a clear number in my mind!" Liu Chengyou then looked to Deputy State Finance Commissioner Xue Juzheng and gave the order.

"The Khitan—how enormous are the needless losses of manpower and resources they have cost us!" Liu Chengyou's tone carried a strong note of heartache.

"As commanded!" The ministers of the relevant departments responded in unison.

After giving these instructions, Liu Chengyou was silent for a while, then swept his gaze around once more and raised his voice to revisit an old matter: "Now that the north is at peace, I can proceed southward on campaign at leisure!"

At these words, the hall fell silent. Feng Dao and several civil ministers exchanged glances, then offered a tactful suggestion: "Your Majesty is the sovereign of the realm. We ministers believe Your Majesty should remain seated at the Eastern Capital to reassure the world. As for the matter of a personal expedition—might Your Majesty reconsider?"

His brows furrowing, Liu Chengyou swept a glance at Feng Dao, causing the old fox to avert his gaze. A flicker of displeasure rose in his heart. Every time he wanted to personally lead a campaign, these people always tried to block him. The previous decision for the imperial northern expedition had not been reached easily among the court's ministers either.

And now, here it came again.

Though he sensed the emperor's displeasure, Fan Zhi, considering it his duty as a minister, still took the initiative to dissuade: "Your Majesty, for the campaign against the false Tang, the generals of the Huainan forward camp will exert themselves—why must Your Majesty personally go? The battlefield is a place of danger; I fear that if the imperial carriage goes in person, the soldiers may fight with hesitation in their hearts!"

Liu Chengyou's gaze lingered on these three—Feng Dao, Li Tao, and Fan Zhi.

Noticing Liu Chengyou's expression, Tao Gu, who was fortunate enough to be seated, rose and spoke on Liu Chengyou's behalf: "Chancellor Fan, why not think of it in reverse? If Your Majesty personally goes to Huainan, it will inspire morale, driving the soldiers at the front to fight bravely and break the Tang army?"

After Tao Gu finished speaking, Liu Chengyou no longer had the appetite to wrangle with the chancellors over the personal expedition. In a tone that brooked no argument, he declared: "Facing the mighty Khitan in the north, I felt no fear—how much less the insignificant false Tang? On the matter of the personal expedition, my decision was made long ago and will not be changed!"

"By imperial decree, on the eighteenth day of this month, the imperial carriage shall proceed to Huainan!"

Feng Dao and the others exchanged helpless glances, a certain bitterness unavoidable, but faced with Liu Chengyou as he was now, they could only hold their noses and acquiesce.

They had served Liu Chengyou for no short a time—essentially from the founding of the state, watching him grow step by step to where he was now. They also knew well that when Liu Chengyou displayed this kind of hard, almost unreasonable attitude, he could not be stopped. To counsel further would be to lack tact.