Chapter 515: Holding Court at Chongzheng Hall (2)

Tonight's confidential briefing in Chongzheng Hall marked the first time since returning to court that Liu Chengyou had come into close contact with the Grand Han's core ministers. Though it was a rather intangible thing, he could clearly sense that Feng Dao, Guo Wei, and the other ministers had changed somewhat compared to the past—they were more deferential.

It wasn't that these ministers had lacked respect in previous years; it was just that beneath their reverent faces, there had always lurked some divergent thoughts. In the past, Liu Chengyou had felt as though he alone, wielding schemes and stratagems, was dragging the leaky, rain-seeping Great Han dynasty forward. The ministers hadn't exactly held him back, but in the end, they hadn't truly been of one heart with him.

But now, the ministers in the hall were clearly beginning to devote themselves in earnest to the Great Han court, to their sovereign, to the century-old foundation and eternal achievements. Though this was something mysterious and hard to define, Liu Chengyou seemed to perceive that "sincerity."

Take Guo Wei for example—though he held the post of Commissioner of Military Affairs, in the past, Liu Chengyou had to nudge him before he would respond; when Liu Chengyou advanced a step, he would retreat one. But the proposal he had put forth this time in the Bureau of Military Affairs clearly radiated an active, enterprising spirit for the state's great reunification.

Sensing all this, Liu Chengyou's expression unconsciously relaxed, and a hint of delight played at the corners of his lips.

"What is the situation in Guanzhong now? What are the Shu army's movements?" Liu Chengyou asked again.

This time, it was Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs Zheng Renhui who answered. He rose, bowed respectfully, and reported: "Your Majesty, since the start of spring, the Shu army has sent approximately fifty thousand troops in two columns into Guanzhong. The Shu sovereign appointed the imperial guard commander Li Tinggui as Northern Expedition Commissioner, with the surrendered official He Chongjian as his deputy, leading thirty-five thousand troops out of Fengzhou to attack Fengxiang. He also ordered Han Baozhen, Military Governor of the Xiongwu Army, to lead fifteen thousand infantry and cavalry out of Qinzhou to attack our Longzhou, seeking to threaten Fengxiang's flank!"

"According to intelligence from the military intelligence bureau, this campaign was strongly advocated by the Shu Commissioner of Military Affairs, Wang Zhaoyuan. To support this war, Shu has conscripted nearly a hundred thousand laborers and amassed vast quantities of grain and supplies!"

Hearing this report, Liu Chengyou's brows knit tightly. "No wonder—even though our court has ceased hostilities and negotiated peace with the Southern Tang, the Shu army still hasn't withdrawn. With such heavy investment upfront, is the Shu army's appetite really so vast that it intends to swallow Fengxiang and Jingzhao in one gulp and sweep across the lands west of the pass?"

"I have heard that this Shu minister Wang Zhaoyuan was the Shu sovereign Meng Chang's childhood study companion. He is eloquent and deeply trusted by the Shu sovereign, who has entrusted him with military affairs. Wang Zhaoyuan compares himself to Zhuge Liang; at banquets with guests, he often boasts of a northern expedition. This time, the Shu army has struck out, pressing directly against our border cities. Because our court is occupied in the southeast and weak in the southwest, we have been forced onto the defensive."

"Given the frontline situation, the Shu sovereign has praised Wang Zhaoyuan considerably. According to intelligence from the Chengdu court and from Hanzhong and Shu lands, the Shu court appears inclined to send reinforcements!"

"I have heard of this man before!" Liu Chengyou sneered coldly. "It's not that I underestimate the heroes of the world, but who does this nobody think he is, daring to compare himself to the Marquis of Wu? Even if the Marquis of Wu were reborn, would our court be any weaker than Cao Wei?"

"Your Majesty speaks truly!" Zheng Renhui said. "If the intelligence is accurate, this Wang Zhaoyuan is nothing but a favored sycophant—gold and jade on the outside, rotten straw within. Though he talks endlessly and expounds on military classics, he is merely a paper strategist. He has neither experience commanding troops nor ability in governance. His wild boasts are nothing more than the arrogance of one who stands still and thinks himself king of his own little hill!"

Walking over to the map that still hung high, Liu Chengyou climbed the ladder platform, leaned in to study it, and said: "The Shu army's movements are almost identical to their invasion of Guanzhong in the early years of our dynasty! What is the situation at the front lines of the current engagement?"

Zheng Renhui stepped forward and explained: "Commander Li Tinggui has advanced his main force to Chencang, attacking San Pass. Zhao Hui, Military Governor of Fengxiang, has gathered his yabing guards to defend it, while Yao Yuanfu, Military Governor of Baoda, leads the troops of Fu and Bin prefectures to hold San Pass. With the Wei River between them, their pincer effect is somewhat diminished. With Qin and Feng lost, we lack the natural defense of the Qinling Mountains, so overall, on the Fengxiang front, our court is at a disadvantage. However, with Generals Zhao and Yao holding the line, there is no immediate danger, and the Shu army has not achieved further gains.

Song Yanwo, Military Governor of Yongxing Army, is holding Jingzhao firmly to guard against any sneak attack by a detached Shu force. At Longzhou, Shi Kuangyi, Military Governor of the Zhangyi Army, has led troops south to block Han Baozhen at Longzhou!"

"Still too passive!" Liu Chengyou stared at the map for a long while before offering his view on the Guanzhong situation: "If either Chencang or Longzhou falls, the situation will surely collapse. And if the Shu army fights more cleverly—sending an elite force to raid the heart of Guanzhong, focusing on disruption—then even without losing ground, the situation would certainly deteriorate! The prefectures of Guanzhong were already devastated; they've only enjoyed a few years of stability and cannot withstand the ravages of war again!"

"Reinforcements! Guanzhong needs reinforcements!" Liu Chengyou said gravely.

"Your Majesty!" At this moment, Guo Wei spoke up on his own initiative: "Reinforcements are certainly necessary, but in my view, the court need not launch a large-scale push westward!"

"Oh?" Liu Chengyou looked at Guo Wei. "What are your thoughts, Minister Guo? Speak up!"

Upon being asked, Guo Wei revealed a smile of deep cunning and said: "First, since the Huainan campaign, state finances have been insufficient and the army and people are exhausted, urgently needing rest—this is no time for large-scale military action! Second, if we make too much noise, I fear we'll scare off the Shu army!"

Hearing Guo Wei say this, Liu Chengyou grew interested and said thoughtfully: "Minister Guo, it seems you have designs on the Shu army that has invaded from the north?"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Guo Wei said with a faint smile: "Your Majesty's grand vision and ambition encompass the world. The Meng Shu, which has usurped the Sichuan region, will need to be dealt with sooner or later. The Meng clan relies on the natural defenses of the two rivers of Sichuan to carve out their southwestern domain; attacking them would inevitably face formidable obstacles.

Now that the Shu army has taken the initiative to strike out and is engaging our court along the Wei River, if we can, as in the early years of Qianyou, deal another blow to the Meng Shu's military strength and manpower—destroying one-tenth of them today means ten-tenths fewer obstacles when we conquer Shu in the future.

Moreover, the longer we drag this out, the more the Meng Shu's national strength is consumed. We need only adopt a defensive posture, give them hope, whet their appetite, and stretch the war out. The Shu army came north with tens of thousands of troops and a hundred thousand laborers; their grain and supplies must all come by treacherous plank roads over mountains and ridges..."

"Your Majesty, I suggest you need only send a small elite force westward to consolidate the western defenses, plus a naval force up the Wei River to ensure Long and Feng do not fall—that will suffice!" Guo Wei laid out his thinking.

"Minister Guo, these are words of statecraft!" After hearing his counsel, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but cast a look of surprise at Guo Wei.

After thinking it over, Liu Chengyou asked: "What if the Shu army, seeing no profit to be gained, simply withdraws?"

"Then the western threat temporarily disappears, and Your Majesty can devote full attention to domestic affairs, rectifying governance and accumulating national strength!" Guo Wei's gaze remained calm: "Within a year or two, our court can restart the western expedition strategy, retake Qin and Feng, and even push into Hanzhong!"

"Minister Guo, you have thought this through thoroughly!" Liu Chengyou looked at the other ministers and asked: "Gentlemen, what do you all think?"

Since the Emperor had spoken thus, the assembled ministers naturally had no objections. Liu Chengyou then gave direct orders: "The troop deployments will be handled by the Bureau of Military Affairs! However, if a naval force is to be sent west into the Wei River, then Xiang Xun shall personally lead the expedition!"

"Yes!"

"Has the Li clan of the Dingnan Army made any unusual moves recently?" Liu Chengyou asked again.

"Li Yiyin and Gao Yunquan of Yanzhou have sparked another dispute over a batch of war horses. Upon learning that the Huainan campaign had ended, both sides withdrew their troops and simultaneously submitted memorials to the court, accusing each other of wrongdoing!" Hearing the question, Feng Dao volunteered this information.

In the northwest, the feud between Li Yiyin of the Dingnan Army and Gao Yunquan of the Zhangwu Army was known to nearly everyone. Conflicts erupted almost every year. Li Yiyin would feign weakness, while Gao Yunquan relied on the backing of the Northern Han court. The two engaged in open strife and covert struggle, so much so that even the Eastern Capital court had grown accustomed to it.

And in such circumstances, whenever the Northern Han had troubles, any unusual move by the Dingnan Army would ultimately devolve into a "conflict" with Gao Yunquan. This time was no different—this was likely Li Yiyin's cautious approach; no matter what, he had never engaged in direct confrontation with the Northern Han.

But these covert maneuvers seemed petty and small-minded, and they disgusted Liu Chengyou greatly.

"All these years, Li Yiyin has been outwardly deferential, but behind the scenes, he's truly restless and agitated!" Liu Chengyou couldn't help but sneer.

Seeing the Son of Heaven showing signs of anger, Wei Renpu couldn't help but counsel: "The Dingnan Army, backed by the Gobi and relying on the grasslands, has been established for decades. Far off in the northwest, it has already grown into a force unto itself—not an ordinary military governorship. I beg Your Majesty to calm your anger and tolerate their behavior for now. When the state is wealthy and the army strong, we can seek another opportunity and send a capable general to eliminate the threat!"

Hearing this counsel, Liu Chengyou merely raised an eyebrow, looked at Feng Dao, and instructed: "Send envoys to Yanzhou and Xiazhou respectively to mediate the dispute. For now, the court will act as an arbitrator!"

"Yes!" Feng Dao acknowledged the order.

"Additionally!" Liu Chengyou added: "Wang Jingchong of the Wude Office captured a messenger sent by the Southern Tang during the war, carrying their state letter inviting Li Yiyin to raise troops and cause chaos in the northwest. Have the envoy going to Xiazhou bring the messenger and the state letter, deliver them to Li Yiyin on behalf of the Southern Tang, and see how he handles it!"