Chapter 558: Playing a Grand Game of Chess

"Adding the battle in the first year of Qianyou, the Shu army has lost over fifty thousand men directly at the hands of our dynasty. Even for the Meng Shu, which had been accumulating strength for over twenty years, this wounds them to the bone. This southwestern campaign lasted half a year in total, and the Meng Shu consumed three times as much money, grain, military strength, and manpower as our army. The strategy of exhausting Shu has worked excellently!" Wei Renpu said.

"As Your Majesty said, their two northern incursions into Guanzhong both ended in defeat and heavy losses. From now on, the Meng Shu will find it difficult to look north again, and instead will worry that our army, riding on this great victory, will send troops to conquer Shu!"

"In the military reports arriving in the capital, besides the battle situation, there is also a joint memorial from the generals of Fengxiang, requesting that we send troops south to take the four prefectures of Qinfeng and drive the Shu army completely south of the Qinling Mountains!" Guo Rong continued after Wei Renpu.

Liu Chengyou opened the request for battle and browsed through it, his gaze falling on the string of signatures, headed by Zhao Hui and Yao Yuanfu, basically all officers of Guanzhong. He smiled lightly: "The army's morale is usable. The commanders of Fengxiang can't wait to render meritorious service for the state!"

"What are your views?" Liu Chengyou asked Wei Renpu and Guo Rong.

Guo Rong said: "The prefectures of Qinfeng, for our dynasty, are vital border defense territory. Lost to Shu, their two northern sorties both easily raided into the Wei River, directly threatening Guanzhong, nearly stabbing at our heart. If not for the loyal service of our Great Han soldiers and the rigid tactics of the Shu generals, even if they could not break through Fengxiang, they could still have inflicted major damage on our lands south of the Wei.

Although the likelihood of another Shu army northern campaign is now small, strategic key terrain must never remain in enemy hands, constantly threatening and constraining us. This point, with Your Majesty's wisdom, you have long understood.

In my view, we might let the Fengxiang forces rest briefly, then, taking advantage of the Shu army's great defeat, attempt an attack!"

Liu Chengyou nodded and turned his gaze to Wei Renpu. Wei Renpu, in his usual humble posture, did not rush to answer but pondered for a moment, weighing his words, before speaking calmly: "Your Majesty, the court's earlier instruction to the southwestern armies was to defend against the Shu army, exhaust their national strength, and weary their soldiers and people. Neither Fengxiang nor the court has actually made preparations to advance and retake the four prefectures.

Your Majesty has often said: do not fight a battle for which you are unprepared! The frontline commanders request battle because of the heavy defeat inflicted on the Shu army at the Battle of Donghe Village, and so they have developed a desire for merit. Under the current circumstances, if we send troops, we should achieve some gains, but whether we can fully recover the four prefectures and seize the land of Hanzhong is an unpredictable matter.

Therefore, in my view, we should temporarily set aside the intention to attack, reorganize the southwestern military preparations, stockpile grain and equipment, and seek another good opportunity to attack Shu, striving to win complete success in a single battle!"

Liu Chengyou said nothing, but Guo Rong spoke: "Opportunities are themselves created through fighting. The victory at Donghe Village was unexpected. Since a good opportunity has appeared, we should judge by the situation and move with the momentum. If we do not send troops while the Shu army is newly defeated and their morale is in turmoil, and wait until they regroup and rearm, we will have squandered the opportunity.

Reorganizing troops and stockpiling grain is indeed a steady policy, but correspondingly, while our army prepares fully, we also give the Shu army a chance to recover. By then, what great price will our army have to pay to take the four prefectures?

At present, the Huainan campaign has been over for three months, the imperial army of both commands has finished resting, and the summer grain harvests across the regions are being collected and stored. Troops, money, grain, and equipment can all be continuously transported to Guanzhong.

As long as Your Majesty makes up his mind, the four prefectures of Qinfeng can be fought for!"

Having said this, Guo Rong straightened up, lowered his hands, and waited quietly for Liu Chengyou's decision.

Liu Chengyou was not surprised by the divergence of opinion between the two — it was simply a matter of temperament. Guo Rong was a man of great decisiveness, skilled at seizing opportunities and firmly driving their execution.

Of course, Guo Rong's views always had substance and were never reckless words. But at this moment, Liu Chengyou's mind seemed not to be on whether to send troops or not; instead, he studied Guo Rong and Wei Renpu with interest.

The Bureau of Military Affairs and the Ministry of War stood side by side, each holding part of the military-political power. Between the two offices, there was both cooperation and no shortage of contradictions and conflicts. Especially after Guo Rong became Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs, with his forceful style, friction between the offices had noticeably increased.

Guo Rong was stern, Wei Renpu serene. Observing the two for a while, Liu Chengyou withdrew his gaze, thought seriously for a moment, and said: "Both of your words have merit — it is only a matter of urgency versus patience!"

"Your Majesty." Wei Renpu offered his counsel again, unhurriedly: "Matters of war are never merely about sending troops to fight. Although the imperial army of the Eastern Capital has finished resting, the exhaustion of the people of the Central Plains from war has not recovered so quickly. Moreover, in these past months, the aftermath management of Huainan, the rewards for the soldiers, and the fierce fighting at Fengxiang have all consumed a large portion of the court's tax revenue.

Add to that these past months of continuous court actions — the reform of Hedong and the reorganization of the border armies — all need time to consolidate their results. The fiscal recovery of Guanzhong has only just gotten on track.

Therefore, I believe that rashly launching another great war to take Qinfeng, even if the court could grit its teeth and bear it, would bring more harm than good.

Of course, Commissioner Guo's considerations do have merit. But I still advise Your Majesty to temporarily halt military action, sort out military and political affairs, and plan for Qin and Feng later. It need not take long — only half a year — and then we can move troops, and it will not be too late!"

His fingers tapped lightly on the imperial desk — Liu Chengyou's habitual gesture when weighing a decision — each sound falling into the ears of the two ministers in the hall. Rapid attack, slow advance — each had its advantages and disadvantages. The choice seemed somewhat difficult for Liu Chengyou, making him hesitate.

As for the military and political situation of the Great Han, how could Liu Chengyou not be clear in his heart? It was just that, perhaps without realizing it himself, since taking Huainan, his desire to unify the realm had grown increasingly impatient. He wished he could take Jinghu in a month, destroy Shu in half a year, pacify Tang in a year, and swallow the whole realm in two years...

Having found a good opportunity with the possibility of execution, he had the will to try. In fact, to a certain degree, Liu Chengyou's temperament was somewhat similar to Guo Rong's — only more restrained than Guo Rong.

"Furthermore!" Seeing the Emperor seemed unable to decide, Wei Renpu rose and again spoke unhurriedly: "I believe the previous 'strategy of exhausting Shu' still has room to be carried out.

If Your Majesty wishes to pacify Shu, do not worry about their troops — only worry about their treacherous mountains and passes. Whether going south or west, the roads stretch a thousand li, with many passes and strongholds — one could say a danger at every step. If we fight our way through, we will surely waste time and lose men, achieving half the result with twice the effort."

Hearing Wei Renpu say this, Liu Chengyou's interest was immediately piqued, and he looked at him: "Continue!"

"When reorganizing the army at Fengxiang, we might as well make a great show of it, creating the posture of attacking Qinfeng, yet holding back without striking, causing the Shu sovereign to reinforce Qinfeng. When we do move troops another day, we can also advance slowly and take our time!"

Wei Renpu's words were concise, but with Liu Chengyou's shrewdness, he immediately grasped his meaning. The military strength of the Later Shu — regardless of its fighting capability — could not be underestimated in terms of numbers alone. After all, it was supported by the foundation of several million people. Even after suffering heavy losses, re-arming two hundred thousand troops would not be a problem.

If we attacked Shu, relying on its national strength and military power to defend its natural defenses, it would by no means be an easy task for the Great Han. But according to Wei Renpu's strategy, using the four prefectures of Qinfeng as bait, luring out the main force of the Shu army, fighting a decisive battle in Qinfeng, and consuming and annihilating their military strength outside of Chuanshu — then the difficulty of attacking Shu and breaking through their passes would certainly be reduced.

And to play such a grand game of chess, the Great Han side truly could not rush; thorough preparations had to be made on all fronts, just as when campaigning against Tang.

As for whether the Later Shu side would take the bait and "obediently" move out its main force, Liu Chengyou believed there was room to make it happen. Unless Meng Chang was willing to directly give up the four prefectures of Qinfeng — and that possibility was unlikely.

"What does Minister Guo think?" His brow relaxing, Liu Chengyou looked toward Guo Rong.

Upon the question, Guo Rong directly cupped his hands and replied: "Chancellor Wei plans the grand strategy with far-reaching vision. I am not his equal!"

With these words, Guo Rong had already made his stance clear. Evidently, compared to merely taking the four prefectures of Qinfeng, he too favored a grander scheme.

"As Minister Wei said, we will temporarily shelve the advance. Send the order to Fengxiang!" Liu Chengyou made the final decision directly.

"Yes!" Guo Rong acknowledged.

"Also, for this campaign against Shu, the three lords Zhao, Yao, and Shi have labored with great merit. Issue an edict summoning the three of them to the capital — I will personally receive and commend them!" After a moment's thought, Liu Chengyou further instructed: "As for the front, appoint Xiang Xun as Army Supervisor of the Southwest, commanding all routes of troops, drilling and training the soldiers, and preparing for the attack on Shu!"

With this edict, Liu Chengyou again killed several birds with one stone.