Chapter 464: Overawing Commander Wang

Skirting a bend in the Huai River, after what seemed like endless anticipation and under the gaze of ten thousand eyes, the Son of Heaven's imperial carriage finally arrived at Xiaca. At the ferry landing, flanked by his close ministers and personal guards, Liu Chengyou stepped onto the soil of Shouzhou, accompanied by Worthy Consort Zhe.

Though Lady Zhe was a woman of the inner palace, accompanying the imperial carriage before the assembled generals, she wore a suit of light armor, displaying her heroic bearing to full effect. Along the journey, she had given Liu Chengyou two tastes of the allure of uniformed beauty. But at this moment, her face was somewhat pale, her expression weary—after all, she was a lady raised beyond the northern frontier, hardly accustomed to water, and could barely endure the hardships of boat travel.

"Your subject Wang Jun, Commander-in-Chief of the Huainan Forward Camp, leads the officers and men of the army in respectfully welcoming Your Majesty!" Wang Jun stepped forward first, saluting with military courtesy, and hailed loudly.

Wang Jun had thrown his voice wide open, his deep, resonant tones drifting on the eastern wind. Behind him, the army's officers stood in two ranks; further back, before the city walls and beside the military encampment, stood several thousand awe-inspiring soldiers of the welcoming party—men of the Xiaodi, Hujie, Husheng, and Fengguo armies all present.

"We respectfully welcome Your Majesty!" The officers and men saluted in unison.

Sweeping his gaze across the assembled host, Liu Chengyou saw the armored warriors of the Great Han standing proud and imposing against the cold wind. Straightening his frame, he raised his hand and declared in a clear voice: "Chancellor Wang, rise; all generals, rise. You have braved life and death, braved wind and cold, fighting for the nation—you have worked hard!"

"To serve Your Majesty with loyalty, to die for the Great Han!" The moment Liu Chengyou finished speaking, one man in the ranks of generals immediately roared, his emotions surging so high his voice cracked slightly.

Liu Chengyou turned his gaze and saw it was Li Chongjin, whose expression was agitated and countenance excited. Somewhat surprised, he hadn't expected that this nephew of Guo Wei would show such promise.

After Li Chongjin spoke, Murong Yanzhao made a slight gesture, and Wang Yansheng, catching his meaning, immediately shouted: "Long live the Emperor!"

Soon, the welcoming officers followed suit, shouting as well. In such circumstances, herd mentality took hold, and the cries spread directly outward—from the welcoming soldiers to the accompanying imperial guards, gradually to the Han camp's troops, and even quite a few of the conscripted laborers joined in with a few shouts. Whatever the case, it lifted the spirits.

Wang Jun, standing before the assembled generals, felt somewhat ill at ease. To join in the shouting himself would be beneath his dignity, so he remained there, awkwardly maintaining his composure. Noticing Wang Jun's demeanor, Liu Chengyou seemed unconcerned, raising his hand to wave at the officers and men, sending the welcoming cries to yet another peak.

By the banks of the Huai River, the fervent cheers lasted for a considerable time before finally dissipating. Resounding throughout the city and beyond—whether the people of Xiaca or the spies of the Tang army—all knew that the Son of Heaven of the Great Han had arrived at Xiaca.

Only after the cheering had ceased did Wang Jun, who had been somewhat distracted until someone reminded him, address Liu Chengyou and Lady Zhe: "Your Majesty, Lady Worthy Consort, the county office has been prepared and can temporarily serve as the imperial residence. Please enter the city!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou smiled slightly and said: "I am an emperor on horseback; wherever the army camps is my imperial residence. I shall not enter the city to disturb the people. I appreciate Chancellor Wang's kind intentions, but I wish to tour the camp—may I trouble you to lead the way!"

Liu Chengyou's attitude and words made Wang Jun extremely uncomfortable inwardly. He looked up, only to meet the Son of Heaven's calm, ordinary gaze. The word "displeasure" was almost written on his face, but Wang Jun held it in, not giving vent, and made a bow: "As you command!"

Withdrawing his gaze, Liu Chengyou then said to Murong Yanzhao: "The three armies accompanying the carriage—Fengchen, Longqi, and Tieqi—I leave to you, Yanzhao, to arrange!"

"Your subject obeys the command!" Murong Yanzhao hurriedly responded.

Even the dullest person could sense the difference in the Son of Heaven's attitude toward Commander-in-Chief Wang and Chief Inspector Murong. At this moment, quite a few commanders who had suffered enough of Wang Jun's arrogance cast glances at his retreating back tinged with a hint of schadenfreude.

The awkward part was that the commander's tent in the Han camp hadn't been cleaned at all—it bore far too many marks uniquely belonging to Commander-in-Chief Wang. Therefore, Wang Jun suggested that Liu Chengyou first tour the various armies, while secretly dispatching Shen Shihou to prepare the imperial tent at the fastest possible speed. To this, Liu Chengyou readily agreed.

As it was deep winter and inconvenient to disturb the troops, Liu Chengyou only made a brief tour of the Han camps on both banks of the Huai River, making a special point of personally visiting the wounded soldiers to offer consolation and show favor. Before concluding, Liu Chengyou directly ordered that all wounded officers and men be transferred into Xiaca city to recover—an order that won him much popular support.

By evening, Liu Chengyou sat in the imperial tent, continuing to fraternize with the senior commanders of the Huainan Forward Camp.

Wang Jun sat at the lower position, closest to Liu Chengyou, the self-satisfied look on his face reappearing as he rattled on endlessly about his achievements: "... After this battle, once we take Shouchun, the lands of Huainan will be ours to ride freely—"

"I already have a clear picture of the achievements—it was indeed a great victory, and you have all worked hard! What are the casualties?" Liu Chengyou asked, cutting off Wang Jun's intention to continue expounding on his Huainan campaign plans.

At the question, Wang Jun took a deep breath, straightened his body, and bluntly hung his head, refusing to answer. Wang Jun's behavior was clearly a snub to the Emperor, and the atmosphere in the tent immediately turned cold.

It was Murong Yanzhao who rose and reported to Liu Chengyou: "According to subsequent tallies, our army suffered a total of over three thousand one hundred dead, one thousand two hundred and thirty-six wounded in varying degrees, and thirty-six missing. Among them, the Husheng Army suffered the heaviest casualties—in taking the city, luring the enemy, assaulting formations, and pursuing the foe, they were the foremost of the three armies!"

Upon hearing this report, Liu Chengyou glanced at Li Chongjin and Wang Yansheng, unable to resist praising them a few words, then said lightly: "No wonder—I hear that among all the armies, the Husheng Army made the most kills, nearly double that of the others."

Liu Chengyou's words fell on Li Chongjin's and Wang Yansheng's ears like the striking of an alarm bell. Their bodies tensed, and they responded sheepishly: "It is all thanks to the officers and men fighting and charging..."

Even one as unruly as Wang Yansheng, when truly facing Liu Chengyou, became utterly docile, without so much idle chatter.

Quickly letting the two off the hook, Liu Chengyou asked: "What is the current situation in Shouchun?"

Glancing at Wang Jun, who sat calmly as if he hadn't heard and showed no intention of answering, Murong Yanzhao replied: "Your Majesty, since the defeat at Xiaca, He Jingzhu, Military Governor of the false Tang's Qinghuai Army, and Zhang Quanyue, Commander of the Baoxin Army, have gathered the routed troops, reinforced the city walls, and stockpiled grain and military equipment. Our cavalry raided southward and has already intercepted three batches of their grain supplies. He Jingzhu had also shown signs of adopting a scorched-earth policy, which our Longjie Army disrupted. That He Jingzhu has already declared that he will live or die with Shouchun!"

"Who says the false Tang has no capable generals? I hear this He Jingzhu has caused our army no small amount of trouble. This Governor He, past sixty years of age, still possesses such mettle!" Liu Chengyou couldn't help but remark upon hearing the answer: "Before I've even sent anyone to persuade him to surrender, he's already cut off his own retreat!"

"Grant him his wish!" Liu Chengyou said flatly.

"Your Majesty, your subject requests to lead the vanguard southward!" Wang Yansheng seized the opportunity to rise and volunteer: "I will surely bring back the head of that old villain He Jingzhu!"

"General Wang's courage is commendable, and his ambition inspiring!" Liu Chengyou said.

Seeing this, the imperial army commanders in the tent also eagerly volunteered, but were pacified by Liu Chengyou with a few brief words.

Liu Chengyou, meanwhile, continued to look at Wang Jun and asked: "Before I came, I heard that Chancellor Wang had already planned to march south and advance on Shouchun again?"

"Wasn't I stopped by Your Majesty's orders? With golden edicts and imperial decrees, how would your subject dare not comply?" Wang Jun finally spoke again, countering Liu Chengyou with a question.

Liu Chengyou appeared to be in excellent temper, offering a faint smile. Seeing this, Murong Yanzhao took the initiative to speak, explaining Wang Jun's considerations for the southern advance to Liu Chengyou on his behalf.

"It seems the Huainan war situation still occupies Chancellor Wang's heart!" Liu Chengyou finally offered Wang Jun a word of praise.

Unfortunately, it was met with a lukewarm response: "When it comes to embracing the realm in one's heart and holding the rivers and mountains in one's breast, I cannot compare to Your Majesty!"

Liu Chengyou maintained his forbearance toward Wang Jun throughout, until all the generals had withdrawn, leaving Wang Jun alone for a "private talk." His tone then took a sharp turn: "Chancellor Wang seems to harbor resentment! Is it that I, the Emperor, have done something inadequate and offended you?"

"I would not dare!" Facing Liu Chengyou's "gentle" inquiry, Wang Jun's tone was rather aggressive.

"Would not dare?" Liu Chengyou hardened as well, slapping the commander's table and saying coldly: "Your arrogance as Commander-in-Chief Wang is almost being flaunted at me! All that's missing is pointing your finger at my nose and saying that Commander-in-Chief Wang is deeply dissatisfied! Hmm?"

Liu Chengyou's sudden outburst made Wang Jun freeze for a moment, then turn his head to meet the Emperor's gaze. But facing the Son of Heaven's indifferent stare, Wang Jun couldn't help but feel a pang of fear in his heart, and finally reined in the arrogance on his face: "Your subject would not dare!"

"If Your Majesty is dissatisfied with your subject, speak plainly—there's no need for such lukewarm intimidation. If I am to be blamed or punished, your subject will bear it!" Wang Jun still boldly met Liu Chengyou's gaze, his neck quite stiff.

"Heh, heh heh..." Seeing this, Liu Chengyou laughed—a cold laugh: "When others submitted their memorials, I took them as mere hearsay reports—groundless, baseless, wild accusations—and paid them no heed! But now it seems, even that was an understatement!"

As he spoke, Liu Chengyou summoned Zhang Dejun and had him present the memorials brought along with the imperial carriage. From among them he pulled out a stack and tossed it directly to Wang Jun: "Take a look—in just one month of holding the command, I've received over a dozen impeachments against you!"

Looking down at the memorials scattered on the ground, Wang Jun casually picked up two, opened them to read, furrowed his brow, narrowed his eyes, his expression shifting through several shades of emotion. Slamming the memorials shut with force, Wang Jun angrily said: "Utter nonsense! Those who submitted these are all sycophants! How could those censors and remonstrance officials in the Eastern Capital possibly know what happens at the front? Such shallow slander—how could Your Majesty, in your wisdom, believe it?"

Observing Wang Jun, Liu Chengyou distinctly noticed that beneath the bluster, Wang Jun's hands were still trembling slightly—whether from agitation or nervousness, he couldn't tell.

However, Liu Chengyou simply rose, and under Wang Jun's gaze, walked toward the tent's exit, leaving behind one sentence: "As for what the impeachments allege, I cannot know the truth of the rest—but your arrogance as Commander-in-Chief Wang, I have witnessed with my own eyes!"