Chapter 497: The Prince of Yan Requests Battle

"However, you need not worry too much!" Liu Chengyou thought for a moment, then reassured them: "Li Jing esteems culture and virtue, so he should not harbor such malicious intentions as implicating others. Just devote yourselves to your duties, and there may yet be a way to resolve this in the future!"

"Yes!"

Glancing outside at the sky, night had already quietly fallen, and some commotion was stirring in the Han army camp outside the city. Liu Chengyou said: "Tonight the army celebrates in grand fashion. Though the Huaide Army has newly surrendered, they still contributed to the capture of Shouchun, so they should join the three armies in the celebration."

Liu Chengyou pointed at Li Fang and instructed: "Write out an authorization slip for Chief Commander Xu, to draw wine and meat from the supply camp as a reward!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Chief Commander, how could you speak that way in front of the Emperor just now?" After taking their leave, that Zhang Yi caught up to Xu Xiang, somewhat agitated.

"What of it?" Xu Xiang turned his head to face Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi took a deep breath: "The concerns about family that you, Chief General, voiced—I fear they will make the Emperor think we harbor doubts and yearn for our homeland. That would cause His Majesty to view us with suspicion, and how could he then trust us with confidence? As newly surrendered men, we ought to display total loyalty, yet you, Chief General—"

Hearing this, Xu Xiang suddenly understood, and said calmly: "So, you're afraid I'll drag you down with me!"

"This officer doesn't mean that!" Zhang Yi, realizing he had grown somewhat agitated, calmed himself slightly.

"I was merely voicing my hidden concerns. How wise is the Han Emperor—if he accepted us surrendered generals, how could he not have considered these matters? Besides, did the Emperor not just say that those who can think of their families can think of their sovereign? He did not rebuke us, but instead expressed understanding!" Xu Xiang swept his gaze over Zhang Yi: "This general is not like some people, who ultimately find it hard to be cold-blooded and heartless. What say you, Chief Inspector Zhang?"

One could clearly sense the enormous shift in Xu Xiang's attitude toward him—like the difference between clouds and mud. A hint of thought surfaced on his face. Was it because he had entered the Han Emperor's good graces and been promoted several ranks in succession, threatening Xu Xiang's position?

While Zhang Yi was lost in thought, Xu Xiang gave a cold snort and strode off ahead. Watching his retreating figure from behind, Zhang Yi muttered in an icy tone: "The 'sovereign' the Han Emperor spoke of—which kingdom's sovereign do you suppose he meant? Have you considered that...

In the Military Governor's hall, Li Fang also used Xu Xiang's words to remonstrate with Liu Chengyou, saying that the surrendered general's heart was unsettled, and that he should be kept on probation and observed, not entrusted with military command, nor allowed to lead his old troops.

Liu Chengyou replied: "When men are adrift far from home, few do not miss their families, especially these soldiers who have campaigned so long. Xu Xiang was able to speak his concerns frankly before me—that counts as honesty.

For newly surrendered men, how could one expect their wholehearted devotion in so short a time? For me, the point is not to probe their hearts, but to observe their deeds."

In many cases, surrendered generals and soldiers, while serving their new master, will put in exceptional effort and diligence, for they wish to integrate into the new military-political environment and earn recognition. Such cases are too numerous to list.

Hearing the Son of Heaven's words, Li Fang clasped his hands and said: "Your Majesty's breadth of mind is vast, and your sincerity in treating others is admirable. However, the ancients spoke of nipping problems in the bud. Xu Xiang and his men do harbor worry and suspicion. Why does Your Majesty not make other arrangements to guard against unforeseen trouble?"

Hearing the remonstrance, Liu Chengyou nodded: "Well said! The Tang generals can be deployed separately. As for the Huaide Army, select men from the field headquarters troops to fill officer positions and strengthen control!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

On the way to the Han camp to celebrate with the armies, Liu Chengyou summoned Li Shaoyou to his carriage. Seizing the opportunity, Li Shaoyou organized and reported to the Emperor some intelligence that spies in Shouchun city had uncovered.

With some lament, Li Shaoyou said: "The Wude Office planted three capable agents in Shouchun city. In the end, only one survived. When he found me, he was already at death's door, his body's foundation severely damaged.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou directly instructed: "They are all meritorious subjects of the Great Han. When it comes to intelligence gathering, is their contribution any less than that of soldiers who fight and kill? They must be properly compensated and rewarded—we cannot let meritorious subjects feel their hearts grow cold!"

"Yes!" Li Shaoyou said: "This minister understands!"

"How went the matter I instructed you to handle?" Liu Chengyou asked.

Li Shaoyou: "This minister questioned soldiers and junior officers of the Divine Guard and learned something. That Zhang Yi is a native of Quanjiao County in Chuzhou. His father once served as County Magistrate but was dismissed for crimes after Li Jing ascended the throne. He is learned and literate. At twenty he abandoned the brush for the sword, serving eight years in the army, drawn from the Qinghuai yabing guards into the Jinling imperial army. He participated in the false Tang's campaign to destroy Min, was captured when the Tang general Zha Wenhui was defeated, escaped alone back to his unit, and was later transferred to the Divine Guard, where for several years he received no promotion. Only under Xu Xiang did he gradually rise to battalion commander, and when the Left Divine Guard was transferred to garrison Shouchun, he came north with them.

Additionally, according to this minister's observations, the one who made Xu Xiang resolve to surrender to the Great Han was precisely this Zhang Yi."

After hearing Li Shaoyou's report, Liu Chengyou said softly: "So it seems this Zhang Yi is also a man of unfulfilled ambitions—no wonder he is so eager to pledge his service."

"Your Majesty!" Li Shaoyou could not help but ask curiously: "What qualities does this man possess to catch Your Majesty's eye?"

"Among the false Tang generals and ministers who have come to pledge their service, though this man is of no particular renown, in terms of ability, talent, and ambition alone, none surpass him!" Liu Chengyou said: "In my campaign against Huainan, seizing its lands and cities is only the first step. Winning over the people's hearts so they submit to governance, thereby providing the Great Han with tax revenue, soldiers, and corvée labor—that is what matters more. And to achieve this, one needs sufficient talent, especially men of Huai, to serve me.

Since ancient times, the Jianghuai region has never lacked talent—only lacked a sovereign who knew how to employ it, so worthy men could not realize their ambitions or stretch their limbs. And I have come precisely to give them that opportunity!"

Nodding, Li Shaoyou echoed Liu Chengyou's words: "Your Majesty's arrival is indeed a blessing to the worthy men of Jianghuai, like sweet rain falling from above! This Zhang Yi, to earn Your Majesty's special regard, is also his fortune!"

While the Northern Han army won victory after victory in Huainan, sweeping all before them and running rampant without rival, the sovereign and ministers of the Southern Tang sat as if on needles and thorns, with reports of defeat arriving one after another.

Ill tidings from the north came thick and fast. The Han army, fierce as wolves and tigers, ravaged the territory of the Great Tang, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians could not stop them. Even if one rewound time just half a year, no one would have believed that the Great Tang Empire—dominating Jianghuai, prosperous and populous, the foremost state of the south—could prove so fragile, with almost no power to resist the Northern Han's offensive. The collapse of a tall tower, the sudden turn of fortune—always catches people unprepared.

In the Jinling imperial palace, among the singing stages and dancing pavilions, spring had already arrived in full vigor, but the decadent music throughout the palace was far less than usual. Facing calamity from the north and the nation's precarious state, the Tang sovereign Li Jing was not yet so benighted as to still sing songs of the rear court.

In the inner hall, Li Jing perused military reports from north of the river, his hands trembling slightly.

"Defeated again..."

Li Jing was in the prime of his years, yet in the span of a single winter, he had visibly aged several years. Staring at the great map of the Tang hung in the hall, the prefectures north of the river still bore Tang banners, but in Li Jing's eyes, they were like a delicate young maiden, left to be wantonly ridden and violated by a burly man from the north...

Shouzhou, Chuzhou, Chuzhou—three armies on three routes, three defeats, each report reaching the south within no more than two days of the last.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Yan has returned to the capital and awaits summons at the palace gate!" A palace eunuch came forward to report cautiously.

Hearing this, Li Jing perked up somewhat. Though somewhat surprised, he hurriedly said: "Quickly, summon him to the palace!"

Before long, the Prince of Yan, Li Hongji, entered the hall, clad in full armor. Though fatigue was unavoidable on his face, his bearing was composed. Seeing Li Jing, he strode forward quickly to pay his respects. Li Hongji had originally been stationed at Runzhou; this return was technically leaving his post without authorization, but judging by Li Jing's manner, he clearly did not mind.

"My son has returned—quickly, no need for ceremony!" Li Jing stepped forward and personally helped Li Hongji rise. Studying his eldest son for a few moments, Li Jing forced himself to rally and said: "Wuyue harries us from the rear, and Runzhou stands on the front line—a dangerous place. I had intended to summon you back to the capital, but court ministers remonstrated against it, saying a garrison commander must not lightly leave his post, lest it damage morale, so I abandoned the idea. But it is good that you have returned—here in Jinling, your mother and I can rest easy.

Heaven does not favor me—your younger brothers have died young, and in this time of national crisis, your second brother suddenly passed from illness. As the eldest son, you must not come to harm..."

At this moment, Li Jing's words revealed nothing but a father's deep affection.

Li Hongji was of a fiery temperament. Hearing this now, he was moved, and seeing his father's decline, he personally helped Li Jing sit down, saying: "Your son, at Changzhou, has already led troops to defeat the Wuyue army, beheading three thousand. The Qian bandit has retreated!"

"Oh!" Hearing this, Li Jing nodded reflexively, then suddenly registered: "What—you have already repelled Wuyue?"

"Indeed!" Li Hongji nodded.

"Good! Good!" A faint smile appeared on Li Jing's face as he looked at the weariness on his eldest son's face: "So you came in person to deliver this glad news to me. You have worked hard!"

The Southern Tang and Wuyue were each other's most dreaded foes, and skirmishes between them were not few. Though Wuyue had this time dispatched troops on Liu Chengyou's orders, insufficient forces were only part of the reason—Wuyue also had internal disputes, and the effect on the battlefield was that Li Hongji broke them and made his name.

The joy did not last long. Li Jing sighed: "Wuyue is ultimately a minor nuisance; the Northern Han is the true great enemy. Now our dynasty, in Huainan, suffers defeat after defeat—I fear we cannot hold..."

Hearing this, Li Hongji looked at Li Jing with firm resolve: "Your son has returned to the capital precisely to request your permission, Father—to reorganize the troops and march north to resist the Han army!"