Chapter 493: Considering How to End the War

"Draft an edict replying to Guo Rong, saying that his management of the Huai-Si region has been well done, and I am very satisfied. All his requests are granted as asked. The troops he has raised and the posts he has conferred shall be registered and recorded, issued to the field headquarters, and later approved by the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War!" Inside the imperial tent, Liu Chengyou washed his face, wiping his hands as he spoke to Li Fang.

"Yes!" Li Fang immediately set brush to ink.

These past two days, Li Fang had clearly become much more careful—diligent in work, sparing in speech. He had personally witnessed the scene of Wang Zhu being rebuked. One had to know that not long ago, the Son of Heaven had seemed ready to place great importance on Wang Zhu. Li Fang did not feel that he was closer to the Emperor than Wang Zhu was.

And as for the inscrutability of imperial will and the unfathomability of heavenly majesty, he had gained a deeper understanding of these words. If he were not vigilant, who could say that unpredictable misfortune might not fall upon himself?

"Your Majesty, the Xuzhou army was defeated at Xuyi city, and the Wo Estuary was attacked with losses of grain and equipment. How shall the persons involved be dealt with?" Wang Jun, who was still in the tent with Murong Yanzhao, could not help asking.

After a moment's consideration upon hearing the question, Liu Chengyou replied: "The junior officer stationed at Wo Estuary was negligent and careless, allowing the enemy to take advantage. Seize him and behead him, to uphold military law! As for Wu Xingde, strip him of his military governorship, keep him in Guo Rong's army, and let him atone for his crimes with merit!"

As Liu Chengyou's words fell, Wang Jun could not help saying: "Your Majesty punishes Wo Estuary heavily but treats Xuyi lightly. Is such handling perhaps open to discussion..."

Wang Jun's speech was unusually restrained. Seeing this, Liu Chengyou asked directly: "What opinion does Minister Wang have?"

"I only fear that hearts will not be convinced!" Wang Jun said.

Glancing at Wang Jun, Liu Chengyou did not think he was trying to plead for the Wo Estuary defender—he wanted to have Wu Xingde killed along with him...

Liu Chengyou waved his hand: "The defeat at Xuyi was not Wu Xingde's fault alone. He had just arrived with his troops when he was given heavy responsibility. When facing the enemy, he still fought desperately to salvage the situation, resisted with all his might, and nearly fell in battle. Guo Rong's memorial also mentioned this.

Wo Estuary is different. The defender was negligent and lax, remiss in his duties, allowing the Tang army to take advantage. When attacked, his response was slow and his handling improper, leading to the loss of Wo Estuary. His crime is great and unpardonable!"

"Furthermore!" Liu Chengyou's gaze circled over Wang Jun as he said: "At the founding of the state, the court's finances were strained, and all above and below were in difficulty, barely able to maintain themselves. Wu Xingde, while governing Heyang, was reverently obedient, emptying the treasury and transporting everything to the Eastern Capital without complaint.

After I ascended the throne, he was transferred to govern Xuzhou. Over the years, he has been diligent and conscientious, following court regulations, implementing the Qianyou New Policies, managing affairs and governing the people with little slack. He is a meritorious elder with great service to the court. Although I have advocated separating merit from fault, first, Wu Xingde's crime does not warrant death, and second, I am willing to grant a small pardon for his error."

"For meritorious officials who are diligent in serving the throne, even if they err, I am still willing to be lenient!" This last sentence, Liu Chengyou said almost solely for Wang Jun to hear.

Whether Wang Jun understood or not, he only clasped his hands and said calmly: "What Your Majesty says is reasonable and well-founded. Since Your Majesty has a benevolent heart, your minister naturally has no objection!"

"As I have said, draft the edict and issue it for execution!" Liu Chengyou said to Li Fang again.

A bit later, Liu Chengyou received a report from Zhang Yongde saying that Hefei had been taken. After Murong Yanzhao routed Xu Wenzhen's army, they learned that Hefei was undefended, and after annihilating Chen Jue, Liu Chengyou gave Zhang Yongde two thousand soldiers, ordering him to march south and seize Hefei while the opportunity presented itself. Giving him the chance for an independent achievement also fulfilled the promise from last winter.

In no more than two days, Zhang Yongde's report of victory arrived.

Buried in paperwork, Liu Chengyou reviewed several important military and political matters sent from the Eastern Capital. One item drew his attention: since the beginning of spring, the Later Shu had indeed shown signs of movement—the armies of Shu's Xingyuan Prefecture and Qinfeng had both been mobilized and deployed along the Han border.

His brow furrowed, Liu Chengyou muttered: "Meng Chang, he actually dares to move troops! Not taking Qinfeng first has indeed bred disaster!"

His tone was icy, but Liu Chengyou was not overly worried. Although the state's focus was on Jianghuai, he had great confidence in his arrangements in the southwest. With Song Yanwo, Zhao Hui, Shi Kuangyi, and others in place, they were more than enough to handle the Later Shu's offensive.

But for Liu Chengyou, the Khitan were behaving themselves in the north, yet Meng Chang, who had carved out a corner in Shu, instead of sitting quietly, dared to actively cause trouble—it gave him a feeling of being offended, and he was quite displeased.

He personally wrote an edict, appointing Zhao Hui, Military Governor of Fengxiang, as Commander-in-Chief of the Southwest Field Headquarters, combining the armies of Fengxiang, Zhangyi, Yongxing, and other passes within the frontier to counter the Later Shu invasion.

Night gradually fell, and several more lamps had been added to the tent. Liu Chengyou still stood before the map. The Huainan region was already fully in his mind's eye. At this moment, his gaze was fixed on the Southern Tang's Jiangdong and Jiangxi. After watering their horses at the Yangtze, the Tang capital of Jinling would be visible across the river—but this great river, for the current Han army, was like a natural moat.

"Someone, summon Tao Gu!" After pondering for a long while, Liu Chengyou ordered.

Soon, Tao Gu arrived upon summons. Liu Chengyou asked him: "Has Minister Tao's health recovered?"

Perhaps due to his age, he had been unable to endure the bitter cold at the front earlier and had fallen ill directly. Liu Chengyou granted him a kindness, allowing him to rest in the city of Xiashao. Only after spring began did he return to the imperial presence, to be consulted and employed.

Hearing the Son of Heaven's concern, his old face immediately broke into a beaming smile as he bowed in thanks: "I am grateful for Your Majesty's concern. Your minister is now largely recovered!"

Nodding and gesturing for him to sit, Liu Chengyou said: "Since the beginning of spring, our army has fought continuously, and together the various forces have defeated over a hundred thousand Tang troops, thoroughly crushing the false Tang's intention to reinforce Huainan. Given the current situation, taking Shouchun and Xuyi is no longer a problem, and within a month, Huainan can be swept clean.

However, our court sits in the Central Plains, a place of contention on all sides, and the false Tang is not our only enemy. At present, Meng Shu has already made moves in the Qinfeng region, with troops, horses, money, and grain being mobilized frequently. To the north, although the Khitan have ceased hostilities according to the agreement, one cannot rule out that they might break the pact due to the southern war and raise arms again."

"Meng Shu has actually moved troops?" Having listened very seriously to the Son of Heaven's account, Tao Gu could not help exclaiming in surprise.

Liu Chengyou nodded: "The Eastern Capital just forwarded the military report from Fengxiang!"

"Is Your Majesty worried about fighting on two fronts?" Tao Gu said.

"If it were only Meng Shu and the Southern Tang, even facing both as enemies, what would I have to fear?" Liu Chengyou said: "It's just that the state's troubles have always been in the north!"

Looking at Tao Gu, Liu Chengyou continued: "For the grand strategy of the Huainan campaign, Minister Tao was both a planner and an executor. You should know that this southern expedition's initial goal was merely to annex Huainan. Although the false Tang has suffered repeated great defeats and its army has collapsed, I know clearly in my heart that crossing the Yangtze to destroy Tang is not something our Han army can accomplish at this time. To guard against unforeseen changes, I intend to conclude the fighting as quickly as possible. I am considering how to end the war with the false Tang after the Huainan campaign. Minister Tao is familiar with the false Tang's situation—can you give me some suggestions for reference?"

Hearing the Son of Heaven's intent, Tao Gu could not help sighing with admiration: "The war is at its height, yet Your Majesty is already considering matters after the war. Your vision is so far-reaching, your planning so foresighted—your minister bows in admiration!"

Liu Chengyou was almost unmoved by his flattery. Seeing this, Tao Gu then said: "In your minister's view, the string of great defeats is already more than the sovereign and ministers of the Southern Tang can bear. Our court's power is great. As your minister observes, voices calling for peace will soon arise in the false Tang court. Jiangnan has always had the strength to hold its own territory and the heart to retreat and defend, but lacks the will to advance.

And the Li father and son, over two generations, have heavily employed literati and literary officials, causing the false Tang's literary culture to flourish greatly, while among their generals and ministers, few have true mettle. Generals like He Jingzhu and Guo Tingwei are, after all, a minority in the false Tang.

Your Majesty need only proceed step by step, calmly taking cities and territory, continuously applying pressure to the false Tang court. When the false Tang sends envoys to sue for peace, you may accept their cession of territory, their declaration of vassalage, and their tribute. Additionally, if no one in the false Tang court advocates peace talks, Your Majesty may also scheme covertly—our court's power is great, and the Son of Heaven is wise; there will certainly be no shortage of those willing to defect!"

"Hearing Minister Tao's words is like drinking fine wine, and also has the effect of a clarifying drenching—I had indeed fallen into a misconception!" Liu Chengyou smiled slightly.

Facing the Son of Heaven's praise, Tao Gu was also secretly pleased. He had followed the army and mixed in, but due to illness had been unable to display his abilities. Now with this counsel, at least his trip had not been in vain, nor had he suffered the hardship for nothing. After returning to court, perhaps he could seize this opportunity to add the title of Chief Minister to his official rank. Becoming chancellor had now become Tao Gu's sole political pursuit...

Looking at Tao Gu, Liu Chengyou said: "I have already released that Chen Jue, letting him carry a personally written letter urging surrender to Li Jing, which should have a deterrent effect. Originally, I thought of sending Minister Tao on another mission to Jinling..."

Hearing these words from Liu Chengyou, Tao Gu's expression shifted. Although in war between two states, envoys were not executed, Tao Gu had no desire to make a trip to that "dragon pool and tiger den" of Jinling at this critical juncture—after all, accidents were hard to guard against.

Meeting the Son of Heaven's gaze, Tao Gu carefully replied: "At present, our court holds a great advantage—there is no reason to take the initiative in seeking peace. If we did, it would only give the false Tang's sovereign and ministers a sense of hope."

"However, hearing Minister Tao's words, indeed there is no such need—I was overthinking!" Liu Chengyou's slow, deliberate sentence made Tao Gu breathe a sigh of relief.

After Tao Gu withdrew, Liu Chengyou considered briefly, then ordered someone to summon Li Shaoyou and gave him instructions. What was discussed was naturally having the agents of the Wude Office in Jinling find opportunities to stir up activity.

Late in the evening, as he was about to rest, Murong Yanzhao personally came to report that someone had come out of Shouchun city and been captured by patrol soldiers. The man voluntarily stated that he was under Xu Xiang, commander of the Divine Guard Army, and wished to make contact to request surrender.

Liu Chengyou found this an unexpected delight. But as for how truly unexpected it was—that was not necessarily so. Though he did not see into men's hearts with complete clarity, he was not lacking in experience. With so many defenders, they could not all be as obstinate and unyielding as He Jingzhu.

Although he had ample confidence and assurance in breaching the city, he was still very interested in the city's officers taking the initiative to defect.