Chapter 532: Hedong Storm (4)

South of Taiyuan Prefecture, Tuanbai Valley.

This place sat at the junction of Taiyuan, Fenzhou, and Liaozhou, guarding the southern throat of Taiyuan. When Gaozu of the Jin, Shi Jingtang, first raised his army and the Tang army came to suppress him, troops had gathered here. Since then, soldiers had been stationed here continuously to protect Jinyang.

Zhao Kuangyin led his men across the border from Luzhou, and before long, received a "warm" welcome from the Hedong yabing officer Li Chan—clearing the way, guiding the route, escorting them—all done with "meticulous care."

Passing through Tuanbai Valley, they set up a temporary camp in a village outside the valley. Night had fallen. In the imperial army's camp, Zhao Kuangyin walked alone among the tents, looking around in deep thought.

"Chief Inspector!" Han Lingkun, clad in full armor, ran up to him. Glancing at Zhao Kuangyin's chiseled profile, he asked curiously, "What are you looking at?"

Han Lingkun and Zhao Kuangyin were childhood friends with a deep bond. For this mission north on imperial orders, Zhao Kuangyin had specifically requested this officer, and Liu Chengyou had agreed.

Han Lingkun had originally served in the Husheng Army. After the southern campaign, Li Chongjin and Wang Yansheng had received rewards mixed with punishment, while the commanders and officers beneath them were treated generously—rewards and promotions, nothing stingy. Han Lingkun, for his merit in the campaign, had been transferred to the Xiaodi Army of the Palace Command, serving as Left Captain of the Right Wing.

For a long time, the military's organizational structure had been chaotic, with a proliferation of titles. From top to bottom, all unit commanders were called "Commander," which was extremely inconvenient. After returning to the capital this time, taking advantage of another reorganization of the imperial army, Liu Chengyou had streamlined the structure.

Ten men made a squad, five squads a platoon, two platoons a company, five companies a battalion, five battalions a captaincy, two captaincies a wing, two wings an army. And Han Lingkun, as Left Captain of the Xiaodi Army, had leapt up to become a captain commanding five battalions of twenty-five hundred soldiers.

Zhao Kuangyin pointed at Tuanbai Valley in the distance and said flatly, "They say there's a silver mine in the mountains. The Taigu County government opened the mountain for mining without reporting it, without complete paperwork, and without any imperial overseers. This place yields fifty thousand catties of silver a year. Tell me—of this silver, how much goes to the Eastern Capital, and how much goes to Jinyang?"

Han Lingkun was stunned, unable to grasp what Zhao Kuangyin meant.

Zhao Kuangyin continued, "The people conscripted to work the mines—do they receive compensation for their labor? Are they being overworked like slaves?"

Hearing Zhao Kuangyin's words, Han Lingkun couldn't help saying, "I say, Chief Inspector, how can you still be worrying about the silver mine laborers? We're surrounded!"

Zhao Kuangyin swept his gaze around and said, "You mean those Hedong yabing guards?"

"I don't believe you haven't noticed. These Hedong yabing guards under Li Chan—they call it a welcome, but it's really surveillance. Look around—the valley is to the east, we're in the middle, and the Hedong troops are camped to the north, west, and south. If they harbor ill intentions, we'd be in real danger!" Han Lingkun pointed at their surroundings and said, "I think we need to prepare for contingencies!"

"How would we prepare?" Zhao Kuangyin asked in return.

"Put the men on alert, ready to fight our way out at any moment!" Han Lingkun said.

"Remember this—the soldiers outside are all soldiers of the Great Han, and our comrades-in-arms as well!" Zhao Kuangyin said seriously.

"But!" Han Lingkun pulled Zhao Kuangyin aside and whispered, "Chief Inspector, this Hedong army is clearly off. Even through this fence and their banners, I can feel the killing intent! Watching their movements, something's clearly wrong!"

Zhao Kuangyin glanced at Han Lingkun, patted his shoulder, and said, "No need to be tense! No need to worry! We just need to do the task His Majesty and the court have given us, and carefully select some elite soldiers!"

"Go, tell the brothers to rest easy tonight and get a good night's sleep!" A hint of a smile played at the corner of Zhao Kuangyin's mouth. "With two thousand yabing guards watching the door for us, that's treatment you wouldn't even get in the barracks at the Eastern Capital. Afraid you won't sleep soundly?"

"This..." Han Lingkun was full of hesitation.

"Go on!"

Zhao Kuangyin returned to his command tent, his expression gradually turning serious. The Hedong yabing's "welcoming" had put a certain pressure on him. From the moment he entered the region, that sense of resistance and rejection had hit him in the face. With his shrewdness, he could already see the danger in this unusual atmosphere.

Of course, the greater the danger, the greater the opportunity. Holding the information the Son of Heaven had given him about the Hedong garrison, Zhao Kuangyin propped his forehead in thought, his eyes brightening slightly as he muttered, "Take their elite troops, curb their power..."

"Chief Inspector, someone's entered the camp, saying they've come on orders from the Commissioner of the Wude Office to pay respects!"

Upon hearing the report, Zhao Kuangyin perked up and hurriedly ordered the man brought in. Looking at the messenger in dark robes before him, Zhao Kuangyin first asked, "Did you manage to avoid the Hedong yabing's eyes and ears?"

"Rest assured, Chief Inspector! I lingered outside for several hours and chose this time to seek an audience precisely to avoid being seen!" The man replied, quickly producing a letter and presenting it: "The Governor has a letter for the Chief Inspector!"

He tore it open and read quickly. Zhao Kuangyin's expression only turned slightly grave as he said, "Things in Jinyang aren't stable right now, are they?"

"I'm only responsible for delivering the letter!" the man replied.

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin looked at this agent of the Wude Office—an ordinary face, numb and expressionless—and was mildly surprised. He gave a faint smile and instructed, "Stay in the camp. Tomorrow, you'll follow the army to Jinyang! You've had a hard journey—go rest for now!"

Li Shaoyou's letter merely gave a brief account of the situation in Jinyang and urged him to come select soldiers there.

"There are over ten thousand troops stationed in Jinyang. Even if it's a dragon's pool or tiger's den, I'll have to brave it!" Zhao Kuangyin murmured. Then, thinking of the yabing guards around him, he couldn't help adding, "These tiger fangs are lodged right beside my bed—I truly want to pull them out!"

Zhao Kuangyin arrived at Jinyang city the following evening, considerably later than Chancellor Fan Zhi, who had traveled light with minimal escort. Upon learning of Zhao Kuangyin's arrival, Liu Chong sent a subordinate official to welcome him.

"Your subordinate Wei Rong, learning that Chief Inspector Zhao has arrived in Jinyang, has come on the Prince's orders to welcome you! At present, the Prince is hosting a banquet at the Prince's residence to entertain Chancellor Fan, and specially invites the Chief Inspector to join the feast!"

"Additionally, barracks have been prepared outside the city for the accompanying imperial army to quarter in!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin's brows knit together. Pointing at Jinyang city and fixing his gaze on Wei Rong, he deliberately put on an arrogant air and said, "We are all imperial army officers—the Son of Heaven's own troops. What, when we reach Jinyang, we can't even enter the city?"

"This!" Wei Rong appeared weak and submissive, cupping his hands and saying, "The Prince has ordered it—fearing the soldiers might disturb the people if they enter the city. Please forgive us. The Chief Inspector may bring ten of his retainers into the city for the banquet!"

At that moment, the yabing officer Li Chan rode over, looking smug and arrogant as he regarded Zhao Kuangyin: "Chief Inspector Zhao need not worry—the barracks outside the city are hardly crude. We won't treat the imperial army brothers poorly!"

Glancing at him, Zhao Kuangyin finally said, "Very well, let me give my men their instructions first!"

Riding over to Han Lingkun's side, Zhao Kuangyin said loudly, "Captain Han, take the men with the official to the barracks outside the city. Don't cause any trouble!"

Then, lowering his voice, he quickly instructed, "I'll enter the city first to scout the situation. Remember—stay put in the barracks. Without my order, don't make any move!"

In the main hall of the Prince's residence, the banquet was in full swing. The wine was half gone, the tables in disarray. Liu Chong looked very pleased. Fan Zhi sat below him, unmoving as a mountain, eyes fixed straight ahead at the dancers, only raising his cup to respond when Liu Chong invited him to drink—exceedingly reserved.

Zhao Kuangyin was led into the hall. Liu Chong seemed especially interested in him, looking him up and down several times before finally saying, "So you're Zhao Kuangyin?"

"Reporting to the Prince, this humble officer is indeed he!" Zhao Kuangyin replied, his expression unchanged.

"I hear the Son of Heaven has praised you as a talent fit for a general. In the southern campaign, you repeatedly distinguished yourself in battle. Looking at you now, you are indeed valiant and extraordinary—young and accomplished!" Liu Chong said with a smile.

"I am unworthy of the Prince's praise!" Zhao Kuangyin said.

"Someone, set a seat and bring tableware!" Liu Chong gestured. "Please, sit!"

"Thank you, Prince!" Zhao Kuangyin remained unruffled by favor or slight.

Still, he first bowed to Fan Zhi. The two exchanged a glance. Before taking his seat, Zhao Kuangyin discreetly observed the expressions of those present, and could clearly sense that the Hedong subordinate officials looked largely ill at ease.

Liu Chong was in high spirits. Turning sideways, his face flushed with drink, he said to Zhao Kuangyin, "I have heard that you once broke over ten thousand Tang troops with two thousand men at Wokou. And at Gaoyou, you broke thirty thousand Tang troops with four thousand men. Both were victories of the few against the many, the weak against the strong.

I wonder—with five hundred imperial soldiers in General Zhao's hands, how many enemies could he break?"

When Liu Chong's words fell, most of those present changed expression, while Fan Zhi's brows knit tightly.

Meeting Liu Chong's gaze, Zhao Kuangyin replied calmly, "In marching and fighting, victory is not decided by numbers alone. One must observe the heavens above, examine the terrain below, act according to circumstances—and also consider the enemy's situation, the morale of the troops, their fighting strength..."

"Well said!" Liu Chong laughed heartily, asking with great interest, "General Zhao came north, passing through our Hedong prefectures and counties. You must have seen the Hedong troops. If they were your opponent, how many could five hundred imperial soldiers handle?"

At these words, Zhao Kuangyin's body paused slightly. He cupped his hands and replied, "The Prince jests!"

"General Zhao need not be nervous—I'm merely curious!" Liu Chong said, looking at Zhao Kuangyin with a smile.

Seeing this, Zhao Kuangyin cupped his hands and said with a perfectly calm expression, "If the Son of Heaven commands it, even against a hundred thousand enemies, this humble officer would dare charge into the fray, through fire and water!"