Chapter 5: Council in the Hall

"What virtue or ability does the Khitan ruler possess to dare occupy the imperial throne? Does he truly think the Central Plains has no one left?" After Liu Zhiyuan's words fell, the hall fell silent for a brief moment. It was Liu Xin, Chief Commander of the Xingjie Army, who spoke first, voicing a burst of indignation before turning to a topic that had become almost commonplace of late: "Elder Brother, the Jin house has fallen, and the people have no one to rely on. I beg you to assume the imperial title without delay, so that you may command the four quarters and resist the barbarian aggression from the north!"

Liu Xin was Liu Zhiyuan's cousin. He was violent by nature and possessed little ability, holding his high position in Hedong only by virtue of his status as a member of the Liu clan. This opinion might have been his own, but the wording had been drafted for him beforehand by his staff advisors before he came. Of late, among the civil and military officials of Hedong who actively urged Liu Zhiyuan to take the throne, he was one.

After all, he was of the Liu family. Even without any profound or far-reaching insight, he could still sense the rare opportunity. Examples of one man attaining enlightenment and his chickens and dogs ascending to heaven with him were all too common in this era.

Liu Zhiyuan looked at Liu Xin without saying a word, as if waiting for him to continue. Unfortunately, Liu Xin's belly held nothing more, and he could only stare blankly at Liu Zhiyuan, saying nothing further.

It was Liu Chong who picked up the thread, cupping his hands toward Liu Zhiyuan and urging in a tone of certainty: "Elder Brother, what Brother Xin says is reasonable. In the world today, aside from you, there is no other hero capable of stemming the tide and remaking heaven and earth." Compared to Liu Xin, Liu Chong appeared somewhat more composed, yet the hope in his eyes could not be concealed in the slightest.

Unfortunately, he likewise failed to receive any positive response from Liu Zhiyuan. On his stern face was fixed a forbidding expression as he turned his attention to the others, seeking additional counsel.

Seeing this, Yang Bin, the Governor's Adjutant, spoke up, saying slowly: "Great King, the Khitan ruler harbors ambitions to sweep across the world and swallow up all eight directions. Now that he holds the Central Plains and Hebei, with his might reaching the lands west of the Pass, how could Hedong remain aloof and unaffected? Although the Great King has twice sent envoys to pledge submission, you have also stationed elite troops to guard the passes—both defensive measures and expressions of wariness. With the Khitan ruler's cunning, how could he fail to perceive this? The Great King is a founding meritorious minister of the Jin, of lofty virtue and great prestige, and you possess a land with the foundation for imperial enterprise. Given the current situation, if you do not advance, you will retreat. I beg you to decide swiftly!"

Yang Bin's stance was also perfectly clear—urging him to take the throne!

Under Liu Zhiyuan's command, Yang Bin had gradually come to hold the position of chief minister of the hegemon's court. His declaration thoroughly ignited the resonance of all the civil and military officials. Soon, those present spoke one after another, each expressing a positive stance to a greater or lesser degree.

Only Chang Si, Chief Commander of the Prison City, attempted to offer a word of caution: "The Khitan have watered their horses in the Yellow River, with several hundred thousand wolf-like soldiers rampaging across the Central Plains. With the strength of Hedong alone, I fear we cannot oppose them. Perhaps... it would be better to wait and observe a while longer?"

Chang Si was advanced in years, with a head of white hair, yet his spirit was remarkably vigorous. He had risen from the ranks of common soldiers but had little in the way of battle merit. His abilities were mediocre, and he had attained his general's position only through the good fortune of catching Liu Zhiyuan's eye. However, this man shared a deep friendship with Guo Wei. When Guo Wei was still of humble station, he had often been fed and clothed by Chang Si's household, treating him as an uncle or father. Even to this day, Guo Wei still privately addressed him as Uncle Chang.

Perhaps sensing that his tone had come across as too weak, Chang Si gave an embarrassed smile under the gaze of all present, then hastily changed his tune and swore: "It is not that this humble officer fears the enemy or sings the praises of the Khitan. Should the Great King but give the order, though these old bones of mine are aged, I dare to take up my sword, mount my horse, and charge into battle for the Great King!"

Hearing this declaration of loyalty, Liu Zhiyuan showed some reaction. Raising a hand to stop the impassioned old general, he said calmly: "These are the words of mature experience. The strength of the Khitan army is an indisputable fact. Even I, when I think of the iron horses and golden spears capable of trampling the realm flat, cannot help but feel a measure of dread!"

Liu Zhiyuan's words were full of wariness toward the Khitan, but looking at his expression, it was merely wariness. Living in this era, as a qualified hegemon, when ambition was stirred, let alone several hundred thousand Khitan troops—even twice that number—he would never simply surrender his territory without a fight.

At this moment, Shi Hongzhao sprang to his feet, his expression fierce and impassioned, and declared in a ringing voice: "The Khitan may have many soldiers, but I do not fear them! I refuse to believe that all three hundred thousand Khitan are elite warriors. The Great King stands tall in Hedong with strong soldiers and sturdy horses, backed by tens of thousands of sharpened swordsmen. Why should we fear the Khitan?"

Shi Hongzhao's rousing words and impassioned speech were indeed inspiring. Even Liu Zhiyuan's gaze toward him could not help but reveal a hint of appreciation. Although this man was hot-tempered, crude, obstinate, and arrogant, his courage was genuine, and coupled with the loyalty he so often displayed on his face, he had earned considerable trust from Liu Zhiyuan.

However, there was always someone who would not buy his act. A somewhat sinister voice sounded heavily from the side: "Sharpened swords? General Shi's heroic spirit soars to the heavens. Heh heh. It seems you intend to emulate Jing Yanguang!"

The speaker was Wang Zhang, Chief Clerk of the Two Offices. This man was one of Liu Zhiyuan's capable administrators, sharing governance of civil affairs with Yang Bin, with primary responsibility for money and grain.

Jing Yanguang had been a "great figure" of the Later Jin. He too had risen from the ranks, renowned for his archery and physical strength. He had served three dynasties—the Later Liang, the Later Tang, and the Later Jin—but his true rise came only after following the Jin founder Shi Jingtang. In the process by which Shi Jingtang brought in the Khitan as reinforcements, seized the Central Plains to the south, and replaced the Tang with the Jin, he had rendered no small merit.

When Shi Jingtang died of worry and grief amid internal and external troubles, Jing Yanguang was entrusted as a regent for the young emperor and wielded great power as a powerful minister for quite some time. At that time, the young emperor Shi Chonggui had just ascended the throne, and Jing Yanguang, who held the reins of government, launched a top-down "anti-Khitan" campaign. Through a series of hot-headed actions, he severed the nominal "grandfather-grandson" bond between Yelu Deguang and Shi Chonggui.

It was during this process that the "sharpened swords" meme was born. At the time, Jing Yanguang made a forceful response to Qiao Rong, the Khitan envoy who had come south to demand explanations, saying among other things: "The Jin dynasty has one hundred thousand sharpened swords. If the Old Man wishes to fight, let him come early." These words were spoken with great passion and soaring heroism.

But after the Khitan invaded the south, Jing Yanguang immediately ate his own words. The Khitan's destruction of the Jin involved three large-scale southern campaigns in total. The first two were repelled by the Jin, with no small victories won. The soldiers of the Jin armies, unafraid of the northern barbarians, fought to the death in bloody battle. It was Jing Yanguang himself who, when leading troops, feared battle, and when facing the enemy, cowered—a thoroughly pathetic performance. When the Khitan once again launched a great southern campaign last year, and Yelu Deguang entered Bian, unable to bear the guilt of having "provoked a national war," he strangled himself to death for fear of punishment.

Wang Zhang's comparison of Shi Hongzhao to Jing Yanguang was clearly not a compliment.

Shi Hongzhao was a standard warrior mass-produced by this era—crude, quick to anger, fond of martial arts and disdainful of letters, with an extremely violent temper. He was not familiar with the "sharpened swords" meme, and was in fact somewhat bewildered by it.

But the trace of mockery in Wang Zhang's tone was something he could feel plainly enough. His quick temper immediately erupted. His face flushed red and his neck bulged as he glared furiously and said in a harsh voice: "So what if I am? What do you intend to do about it?"

"Before the Great King, what could this humble official do? And how would I dare do anything?" Compared to Shi Hongzhao's ferocity, Wang Zhang appeared quite composed, meeting his fierce gaze with calm ease: "This humble official means nothing by it. I merely wished to remind the General that an arrogant army is easily defeated. Moreover, before the Khitan host, we have no capital for arrogance. Matters of war are matters of life and death—one cannot be too careful!"

Wang Zhang's words seemed to remind Shi Hongzhao of something. He instinctively glanced at Liu Zhiyuan and, seeing that his stern expression had gained a few more degrees of gravity, his heart leaped. He hurriedly begged forgiveness: "This humble officer lost his composure and behaved improperly. I beg the Great King to punish me!"

Liu Chengyou, who had been watching this fine show all along, found a hint of amusement and derision surfacing in his otherwise still, well-like eyes. Liu Zhiyuan's camp was by no means a monolithic block; mutual attacks and undermining were hardly a one-time occurrence. It was only under Liu Zhiyuan's suppression that the generals and officials managed to maintain a semblance of harmony and pull together.

Liu Zhiyuan's mind was clearly not on the petty squabbles of his subordinates. He waved his hand, pondered briefly, then looked at Wang Zhang: "All matters of money and grain in Hedong are entrusted to you. General affairs, expenditures, military supplies—you have always kept me at ease. Hmm... if we were to take up arms, would the granaries be sufficient?"

Facing Liu Zhiyuan's inquiry, Wang Zhang answered without hesitation, straightening his posture and holding proper form, replying solemnly: "After years of management, though there is some surplus, the treasuries and granaries of Hedong remain largely empty. However, with the world in such turmoil today, if the Great King wishes to send troops southward, this humble official will, even if it means exhausting heart and blood, surely raise for the Great King provisions for fifty thousand cavalry and infantry for half a year!"

Liu Zhiyuan was clearly quite satisfied with Wang Zhang's assurance. Even the slightly stern tips of his brows could be seen lifting a little.

Lifting his eyes, he slowly swept his gaze across the assembled officials in the hall. Seeing that no one else had any opinion to offer, Liu Zhiyuan let out a sigh of resignation and declared: "The barbarians run rampant, and the sacred land rises and falls. I hold Hedong only to protect the people under my governance from the calamities of war and to let them enjoy peace and prosperity. That is already enough for me. How could I harbor any further ambitions beyond that? As for raising troops—say no more of it!"

"Everyone may disperse!" After another pause, Liu Zhiyuan rose, his expression heavy and solemn, and strode away.

After Liu Zhiyuan departed, the assembled civil and military officials exchanged glances, looking somewhat helpless. Liu Chengyou quietly observed the reaction of his elder brother Liu Chengxun, whose handsome face was full of deep thought, appearing "weighed down with worries."

From the beginning of the council to its end, Liu Chengyou had not spoken a single word, merely listening in silence. As the others dispersed, Liu Chengyou also rose and, with calm, steady steps, caught up with another man who had likewise remained silent throughout.

"General Guo!"

Hearing the somewhat dry and cold call at his ear, Guo Wei stopped in his tracks, turned around, and looked at Liu Chengyou with some surprise, respectfully clasping his fists: "What does the Vice Director wish of this humble officer?"

Liu Chengyou tucked his hands into his sleeves, clasped them behind his back, and studied Guo Wei at close range. His bearing was solemn and courteous, his expression careful and respectful. Liu Chengyou sighed inwardly—at this moment, Guo Wei was a warrior with culture, possessing cultivation and not a trace of arrogance. It was truly hard for anyone to feel ill will toward him.

"In the hall just now, all the gentlemen eagerly offered their opinions, yet you alone remained composed and spoke not a word. Why is that?" Liu Chengyou asked, his gaze calm as he fixed his eyes on Guo Wei. His tone was flat, even somewhat dull.

Guo Wei likewise studied Liu Chengyou. He naturally knew of the "extraordinariness" of the Prince of Beiping's second son, but hearing his question, he could not help but feel puzzled. Under the young man's intense gaze, a strange discomfort rose in his heart, yet he answered steadily: "This humble officer's words carry little weight and my knowledge is shallow. I would not presume to speak rashly."

Seeing Guo Wei's modest demeanor, Liu Chengyou's expression did not change in the slightest, only his voice rising somewhat: "Why must the General belittle himself? I have often heard my father say that the General is quick-witted and intelligent, that every word you speak has substance and strikes at the heart of the matter. Now that the times are turbulent and Hedong's course is uncertain, I beg the General to favor me with your guidance."

Hearing this, and looking at Liu Chengyou's wooden expression, Guo Wei's eyelids drooped slightly. He pondered for a few moments before speaking at length: "As for Hedong's future, no matter how much we say, it all rests on a single thought of the Prince of Beiping. With the Great King's wisdom and sagacity, his firmness and resolve, he likely already has a plan in mind. We subordinates need only wait quietly for the moment, and when the Great King's horse turns, we draw our swords and follow..."

After Guo Wei finished speaking, he observed Liu Chengyou's reaction—still that same withdrawn look that made one feel uncomfortable. His mind racing, Liu Chengyou pressed on in a forceful tone: "When will this moment come?"

"Perhaps when Wang Xiufeng and Lord Bai return to Jinyang, the situation will become clear," Guo Wei said after a moment's thought.

"I have been instructed!" Liu Chengyou replied calmly, saying no more. His gaze, laden with hidden meaning, shifted away from Guo Wei. He clasped his hands in salute and strolled slowly toward the inner courtyard of the prince's residence.

Watching Liu Chengyou's retreating figure, ripples stirred within Guo Wei's normally steady heart. His brows knitted slightly—just now, Liu Chengyou's gaze had actually made him feel a faint palpitation. The Prince of Beiping's second son seemed to take a great interest in him. Why was that? Doubt could not help but rise in his heart.

Taking a deep breath and giving his head a slight shake, Guo Wei walked quietly out of the prince's residence, muttering under his breath: "This second young master of the Beiping Prince's household has deeper and deeper schemes..."

Liu Chengyou had sought out Guo Wei purely as a test. As it turned out, the man did possess some skill in assessing the situation—he had read the current state of affairs quite accurately. Liu Chengyou privately agreed with his view: Hedong's course of action truly would have to wait until those two returned north before Liu Zhiyuan could make up his mind.

The Wang Xiufeng and Lord Bai that Guo Wei referred to were Wang Jun and Bai Wenke. Wang Jun was a native of Xiangzhou, with the courtesy name Xiufeng. In his youth he had drifted through many places and changed masters several times, only settling down after throwing in his lot with Liu Zhiyuan. His military post was that of yabing officer—not a high rank or position—but the man had considerable administrative talent, handled affairs capably, and was greatly appreciated by Liu Zhiyuan.

Previously, under Liu Zhiyuan's orders, he had been sent as an envoy to Bianliang to present a memorial to the Khitan, offering congratulatory gifts and pledging loyalty, while also explaining to Yelu Deguang the reasons why he had not dared to leave his post and come to the capital in person to pay homage—all the while probing his attitude. Of course, more importantly, it was a "spy" mission. Since Yelu Deguang had taken up residence in Bianliang, news of the suffering inflicted upon the scholars and commoners of Henan in the Central Plains had come thick and fast, but as to how things truly stood, a dedicated person needed to go and "inspect" in person.

As for Bai Wenke, he was a native of Jinyang itself, over seventy years of age, holding the office of Deputy Defender of the Northern Capital. He too had been ordered to go as an envoy to Bian, with a mission much the same as Wang Jun's.

The distance between Jinyang and Bianjing was actually not that great. Ignoring mountains and rivers, the straight-line distance was only some seven or eight hundred li. Bai Wenke had set out later, needless to say. Wang Jun had been on his mission to Bian for nearly half a month now; with all this delay, he ought to be returning to Jinyang soon.

His mind churning with endless thoughts, Liu Chengyou's face grew even more indifferent as he walked. Only when he reached the courtyard of his mother, Lady Li, did he reach up and rub his face, trying to soften the muscles of his expression, before entering to pay his respects...