Chapter 535: Storm in Hedong (7)

"Governor, I am deeply sorry! All of Hedong is under the control of Your Majesty and the court. The Prince of Taiyuan and you, Governor, wish to pursue treason out of personal ambition for power — I cannot follow you in this!" Facing Li Cungui's startled and furious gaze, the staff officer stepped forward and clasped his hands in salute.

"A master-betraying wretch!" Li Cungui spat viciously.

His gaze passing over the staff officer to rest on Yang Ye, Li Cungui's voice trembled slightly: "You want to take my life?"

"No matter what, you are the Defense Commissioner of Xinzhou appointed by the court. I have no authority to deal with you. My task is merely to bring Xin and Dai prefectures under control!" Yang Ye met his gaze and said calmly.

Hearing this, an obvious sigh of relief appeared on Li Cungui's old face, and then, with a hint of hope, he said: "Marquis Guo, I have absolutely no rebellious intent. Everything I did was on the orders of the Prince of Taiyuan and the Military Governor's office. Fortunately, nothing came of it. If I have offended you in any way before, I beg your forgiveness!"

"I also beg Marquis Guo, in consideration of my old age, my dimmed wits and clouded eyes, to spare me!" With hope even greater in his gaze, Li Cungui said to Yang Ye: "To repay your kindness, I am willing to give seven-tenths of my family property as an offering to Marquis Guo!"

Li Cungui seemed to have lost his composure, panicking and flustered. His address was respectful, and he pointed at the two beautiful women huddled fearfully in brocade quilts on the couch behind him, saying: "These two beauties, I also offer to Marquis Guo!"

"Hahaha! Governor Li, you really are generous!" Yang Ye laughed, his tone full of mockery: "As a Defense Commissioner of the Great Han, holding great power over a region, and yet you are so utterly contemptible!"

Hearing Yang Ye's words, a flash of shame and anger appeared on Li Cungui's old face, but he held it in.

"Your warm generosity is offered to the wrong man!" Yang Ye stared at Li Cungui and said flatly: "If you wish to atone for your crimes and reduce your punishment, then behave yourself and cooperate, suppressing and controlling the troops of Xinzhou. When this matter is concluded, the court may show leniency in its judgment!"

Like a drowning man grabbing at a straw, Li Cungui hastily said: "I will! I will!"

In Jinyang, as if by prior arrangement, the Kelan Army and the Liaozhou garrison troops arrived one after another, barely an hour apart. When Liu Chong heard of this, he was overjoyed and immediately sent men to summon Zheng Qian of the Kelan Army and Li Wanchao of Liaozhou into the city.

But the result infuriated him — both made excuses about being unable to leave due to troop arrangements, refusing to come.

"What are they trying to do? How dare they defy my orders and go against my wishes!" Upon receiving the news, Liu Chong paced about the hall, waving his arms wildly, furious beyond measure.

Zheng Gong's "advice" to him had been to summon both armies under the pretext of troop selection, then seize their commanders and absorb their soldiers for his own use. That way, all the troops under Hedong's rule, except for Daizhou, would be under his control, giving him more confidence to contend with the court.

Now the first step had gone exceptionally smoothly — both the Kelan Army and the Liaozhou troops had answered the summons. But it was stuck at the Hongmen Banquet step, so how could Liu Chong not be furious?

Li Chan stepped forward and reported to Liu Chong: "Great King, Zheng Qian has brought four thousand troops and is camped north of the city. Li Wanchao has brought two thousand troops and is camped south of the city. Observing their movements, their intentions are unclear!"

Liu Chong's brows knitted together. The garrison troops inside and outside Jinyang outnumbered both armies nearly twofold, but if they refused to obey his commands, they would instead become a hindrance. Liu Chong suddenly felt like he had woven his own trap, and even his gaze toward Zheng Gong carried anger.

Seeing this, Zheng Gong hastily said: "Great King, because of the court's policies, the garrison troops in Jinyang are already restless in their hearts, let alone the other units. That Zheng Qian and Li Wanchao harbor misgivings is understandable."

"Hmph! Now that the troops have come, they must be brought under control!" Liu Chong ordered Li Chan: "You and Zhang Yuanhui take men, split into the two armies, seize their weapons, and take over their troops!"

"Absolutely not!" Zheng Gong hurriedly advised: "Zheng and Li have always shown disrespect toward you, Great King. If you make such a move, they will certainly not sit idly and wait to be bound — they may even raise troops in resistance! With Jinyang's strength, we could naturally defeat them, but our cavalry and infantry would inevitably suffer losses, which would not benefit your great undertaking, Great King!"

"If we can take down these treacherous schemers Zheng and Li, and unite all of Hedong in a single purpose with me, it would be worth it!" Liu Chong said offhandedly in his fury, though the remark was rather insightful.

"I believe we should take them with their troops fully intact!" Zheng Gong said.

Looking at him, Liu Chong said directly: "Tell me, how do we take them with troops fully intact?"

Zheng Gong smiled slightly and replied: "They harbor suspicions and dare not enter the city. Better to send someone to set up a banquet outside the city, inviting both of them to gather, to welcome and wash the dust from their journey. That way, they should have no further reason to refuse. At that time, station a hundred or so blade-wielding assassins in ambush outside, and they can be seized with a turn of the hand! I believe General Li should be tasked with this matter!"

When Zheng Gong finished speaking, Liu Chong thought for a moment, then suddenly said: "No, if Li Chan goes, it will still be difficult to dispel their suspicions!"

"Then what does the Great King propose?" Zheng Gong's expression shifted slightly as he hastily asked.

A "wise" smile appeared on Liu Chong's face, and he waved his sleeve: "I will go out of the city myself, to the Yongli Post Station south of the city. I will not begrudge lowering myself to go in person, giving them full face and showing my sincerity. If they still refuse the invitation after that, then they are truly without sense!"

"Li Chan, the soldiers for the banquet — you will arrange them!"

"Yes!"

In truth, if Liu Chong had been a bit smarter, a bit more perceptive, he should have long since noticed something was wrong. Unfortunately, one who holds supreme power over a region and cuts an imposing figure is not necessarily a wise ruler. After years as a vassal prince, Liu Chong had long lost his basic judgment. Stubborn and self-opinionated, he had revealed this early on.

On his end, Zheng Gong quickly and quietly reported Liu Chong's plans to Li Shaoyou.

The matter had reached its most critical stage. Li Shaoyou had been maneuvering and planning throughout, personally holding command in the city. Upon receiving the report, Li Shaoyou's mood was both surprised and delighted.

According to his original plan, he was to have that fool Li Chan go out of the city to host the banquet, turning it into a reverse "Hongmen Banquet." After seizing him, the Hedong yabing guards... Then, using Zheng Qian and Li Wanchao's two armies to keep watch over the Jinyang garrison troops outside the city.

Zhao Kuangyin, on his end, would take the opportunity to lead the imperial army into the city, launch a surprise attack on the prince's residence, and seize and control Liu Chong. The key to the plan was whether Zhao Kuangyin's surprise attack could succeed, whether he could control the residence, whether he could capture Liu Chong — there was inevitably risk in all of it.

Wanting to keep the chaos contained to the smallest possible scale, he still had to take risks. Li Shaoyou was repeatedly mulling over the plan, assessing the situation, checking for oversights, when suddenly word came from Zheng Gong that Liu Chong intended to go out of the city in person...

Acting within the city carried great risk and was prone to accidents, but if Liu Chong stepped out from behind the high walls of his residence, the room for maneuver increased greatly.

He immediately sent men to verify whether the news was true. Once confirmed, Li Shaoyou suddenly let out a great sigh of relief. He swept the stack of diagrams from his desk onto the floor and laughed heartily.

Although the previous plan had been completely overturned, various notions and ideas collided and churned wildly in Li Shaoyou's mind, slowly forming a new plan — a simple, effective plan.

Without any delay, Li Shaoyou immediately sent men to notify Zhao Kuangyin, Zheng Qian, Li Wanchao, and the others.

Toward evening, Zheng Qian, Army Commander of the Kelan Army, and Li Wanchao, Prefect of Liaozhou, each brought a dozen or so retainers and went to the Yongli Post Station to attend the banquet. The Prince of Taiyuan, Liu Chong, had gone ahead of them, his carriage leaving the city.

Zheng Qian, Army Commander of the Kelan Army, was an old official of Hedong. He had been a subordinate as far back as when Liu Zhiyuan governed Taiyuan. In talent, he was unremarkable; in reputation, he was unremarkable; in governing and commanding troops, he also had little to show.

His involvement in this matter was for no other reason than that he was old and frail, had no ambition, and was accustomed to obeying the court's edicts. Therefore, facing Li Shaoyou, who bore the Son of Heaven's commission, he had no thought of refusal. Add to that the many frictions he had with Liu Chong during his administration — even setting those factors aside, anyone with a modicum of sense would know which side to stand on between the court and Hedong, between the Son of Heaven and Liu Chong.

As for Li Wanchao, it was even simpler. Setting everything else aside, just based on the friendship forged when he had marched east with Liu Chengyou back then, there was no way he would follow Liu Chong in opposing the court.

Though the two did not know Li Shaoyou's specific plan, they only needed to obey orders and cooperate.

The Yongli Post Station was an official relay station built in recent years, situated at a key point on the main road. Beside the post road, Liu Chong's spacious and luxurious carriage stood parked, surrounded by guards of the governor's yabing — a fairly tight arrangement.

Inside the station's main hall, the aroma of wine wafted and the smell of meat filled the air. The wine had been warmed, the meat boiled tender. Fine incense burned in the braziers — the scene was impressive. Liu Chong personally welcomed Zheng Qian and Li Wanchao inside.

"You two, this is fine Fen brew — the finest of wines, aged in the cellar for ten years. It was a filial offering from my son. Even in the Eastern Capital's palace, there isn't much of it!" Liu Chong sat loftily at the head of the table, beaming as he said to the two: "I can't bear to drink it even on ordinary days. Come, let us drink this cup to the full!"

"We thank the Great King for his generous hospitality!" Zheng and Li both gave face.

"You two are both capable ministers of my Hedong, with deep seniority and prestige. If I have been remiss in my dealings before, I hope you will be magnanimous!" Their attitude pleased Liu Chong greatly, and he raised his cup again.

But this time, Li Wanchao only held the cup, not drinking.