Chapter 58: Returning the Army

On the north side of the Gaoping city wall lay a camp—the garrison of Han Tong's cavalry unit. Most of the men had gone out with Han Tong to scout and mop up routed troops. Apart from the soldiers standing guard, only a few wounded remained in the camp.

Murong Yanzhao walked over alone and, greeted by the soldiers, entered the camp. He instinctively observed his surroundings, smelling the stench of horse dung, listening to the occasional whinnies.

Carrying a few bundles of food in his hand, he had come specifically to visit Yang Ye.

In the camp's stable, Yang Ye, bare-armed, was carefully brushing down a horse. But his movements were somewhat distorted—every motion made him grimace and grit his teeth. Having been punished with twenty strokes of the rod, even with a sturdy constitution, it wasn't easy to endure.

In the barracks, Yang Ye had changed into an ordinary soldier's uniform. Demoted three ranks in one go, he had been reduced straight down to a common foot soldier...

"Still feeling sore about it?" Murong Yanzhao picked up a piece of cooked pork and handed it to Yang Ye. Seeing his gloomy mood, he asked.

Taking it, Yang Ye bit into it fiercely and mumbled: "How dare I! I broke military regulations—counting myself lucky to keep my life. I threw the first punch; General Guo's judgment leaves nothing to complain about."

Though his mouth said this, what Yang Ye's expression clearly revealed was: this young master is not happy.

Seeing him stubbornly refuse to admit it, Murong Yanzhao chuckled lightly: "You're not the only one punished. Some people, after all the fuss, only hurt themselves without benefiting anyone else."

Pausing briefly, Murong Yanzhao added: "This time, I suppose it's me—this 'upstart'—who dragged you into it."

Hearing this, Yang Ye immediately waved his hand: "Don't forget, General, Yang Ye is also an 'upstart'!"

"Haha, that's true."

"The cavalry unit isn't a bad place to be. With your abilities, Yang Chonggui, you won't be buried anywhere..." Clearly, Murong Yanzhao had come to comfort this younger brother of his.

Soon, the two fell into casual chatter.

"That Geng Chongmei—actually going and killing himself. If he'd kept his life for me to cut down personally, there'd be no room for that Sun Han to snatch the credit..."

The Gaoping county office had naturally become Liu Chengyou's field headquarters. In the second hall, Liu Chengyou, dressed in a plain silk single-layer robe, paced back and forth, his face full of composure, words continuously spilling from his mouth.

At the desk in the hall, Xiang Gong was bent over recording, writing swiftly—hundreds of characters in a single stroke, completed in one go. He had written up in detail the account of this campaign leading troops south, reporting and requesting commendations, preparing to send it to Taiyuan.

Stopping his pacing, Liu Chengyou thought for a moment and asked Xiang Gong: "Do you think there's anything else that needs to be added?"

At the question, Xiang Gong shook his head.

Only then did Liu Chengyou step forward, pick up the four or five sheets of paper, and review them. Xiang Xun's handwriting couldn't be called pretty—only neat—but even so, it was far better looking than Liu Chengyou's own.

Xiang Xun had by now become Liu Chengyou's trusted secretary; no matter how large or small the matter, nothing passed without going through his hands. Handing it back to Xiang Xun to seal and secure in the courier tube, Liu Chengyou summoned Li Chongju, who stood guard outside: "Send this report to Jinyang by fast horse."

"Xiang Xun, these past days, your counsel and suggestions, your assistance with essential affairs—your contributions have been considerable. With your abilities, serving by my side as a mere attendant is far too great a waste of talent..." Sitting down, he gestured for the rising Xiang Xun to remain seated, and spoke to him casually.

Hearing Liu Chengyou say this, a hint of surprise appeared on Xiang Xun's face. Glancing at the inscrutable Liu Chengyou, he replied: "Up and down the ranks, those who wish to replace this humble official are beyond counting."

"Oh?" Liu Chengyou seemed to take interest: "Why?"

"To be able to work by Your Highness's side and receive your instruction is this subject's good fortune. How would I dare resent a low position or humble rank..." Xiang Xun lowered his eyelids and said with a light smile.

Liu Chengyou's mouth curved slightly, and he waved his hand: "What instruction could I possibly give you? Rather, it's I who have benefited greatly from your guidance along this journey."

After a few more casual exchanges with Xiang Xun, Liu Chengyou's expression turned serious, and he said in a low, solemn voice: "This campaign south has secured Luzhou and seized the strategic advantage of Shangdang. But Zezhou's submission truly caught me by surprise. Next, what direction should our army take? What are your thoughts?"

At the question, Xiang Xun bowed his head in thought for a while, then looked up at Liu Chengyou: "Your Highness surely isn't thinking of continuing southward, is you?"

"That's exactly what I intend—what do you think?" Liu Chengyou admitted readily: "The battle at Yangtou Mountain was also a probe of the Liao army's strength. Don't be fooled by their numbers and might—as judged before, they're nothing to fear."

Xiang Xun's brow immediately furrowed. He studied Liu Chengyou's expression, as if weighing whether Liu Chengyou was serious in saying this.

"Your Highness, what we defeated was only the Yan troops. The Yan people are not the Khitan!" Xiang Xun said.

"I don't think the Khitan are any stronger than the Yan people." Liu Chengyou waved his hand dismissively: "The Central Plains and Hebei have become a quagmire. The Khitan's iron cavalry can't move their legs in this mire either. Since our army has taken the vanguard role and won this crushing victory, we should press the advantage and advance, facing the Khitan head-on!"

Liu Chengyou's tone in saying this laid bare his "arrogant" state of mind. Xiang Xun, however, couldn't help but furrow his brow and admonish: "Your Highness, you must not be careless. In the Central Plains now, the Khitan still have heavy forces massed. Taking Lu and Ze has already greatly relieved Hedong's predicament—advance or retreat, we have ample room to maneuver..."

"Back in Jinyang, didn't you propose leading Hedong's mighty army to advance into the Central Plains? How is it that this time, you've changed your mind?" Liu Chengyou asked.

Watching Liu Chengyou's eyes, Xiang Xun drew a breath and spoke slowly: "Before, when the realm was sinking under the Khitan's iron hooves, it was right for Hedong to bear the weight of the nine provinces, to advance actively, to rally the realm, and to set an example for China's soldiers and people. But now, His Majesty has already proclaimed himself emperor and sent troops to resist the barbarian invaders, and many military governors and prefectures have responded. Under these circumstances, what we must consider is how to defeat and drive out the Khitan at the smallest cost, and rebuild the realm."

"This destruction of Geng Chongmei has greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers and people of the Central Plains and Hebei. At this moment, we should hold Lu and Ze steadily, keep watch on Heluo, and observe the changing situation of the realm. This humble official can almost be certain that the Khitan's rule over the Central Plains is on the verge of collapse. Moreover, with the Longqi Army's current strength, even adding the troops of Lu and Ze prefectures, it would be negligible against the Khitan's great army..."

As he spoke, Xiang Xun suddenly realized something and looked at Liu Chengyou: "With Your Highness's composure and wisdom, you surely wouldn't recklessly advance south?"

Seeing Xiang Xun's throat dry from speaking, Liu Chengyou picked up the water jug and poured him a cup, his finger tracing slow circles on the desk: "Speaking boastfully—if I had fifty thousand Hedong troops in hand, I truly would lead the army south to knock on Heluo's gates and test the Khitan's strength!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou's words, Xiang Xun unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. At least it seemed Liu Chengyou was not as puffed up with pride as his words suggested, nor had he lost his reason over this minor victory.

"Tell me—now that I've destroyed Geng Chongmei and threatened Heyang, do you think the Khitan will provoke Yelu Deguang into sending a great army north to attack us?" After pondering for a moment, Liu Chengyou suddenly asked, his tone thick with wariness.

Xiang Xun, whom he'd expected to launch into another clear and organized discourse, instead answered bluntly: "This humble official does not know."

Meeting Liu Chengyou's slightly surprised gaze, Xiang Xun smiled bitterly: "Whether Yelu Deguang will send a great army north, this humble official does not know. But Cui Tingxun at Heyang is someone we must guard against."

Nodding in thought, Liu Chengyou raised a finger: "For now, we take a defensive posture. Zezhou is no good ground for defense—I intend to return the army to Luzhou!"

"Your Highness is wise!" Xiang Xun clearly approved of Liu Chengyou's decision.

The next day, Liu Chengyou left Li Wanchao to temporarily hold military authority over Zezhou, while he himself led the army north back to Shangdang.