Chapter 618: Unaware of Oneself

He Fujin's funeral arrangements were conducted with great solemnity. The Son of Heaven descended the steps, civil officials bowed, and military officers hung their heads. Liu Chengyou personally composed his posthumous title: Wuqing.

"General Luo, wait a moment!" As the mourning rites concluded, at the gate of the He residence, Li Yun called out to stop Luo Yangui.

Stopping in his tracks, Luo Yangui turned around, looked at Li Yun whose face bore a reserved expression, and clasped his fists. Li Yun extended his hand in a gesture of invitation: "Have a moment to walk and talk?"

Since Li Yun had put it that way, Luo Yangui found it hard to refuse. The two walked side by side, and after only a few steps, Li Yun began to sigh with emotion: "The Son of Heaven holds Commander He in such high regard! To receive such honor after death, even beneath the Nine Springs, he can have no regrets!"

"Esteemed in life, honored in death—Commander-in-Chief He is truly a model for us generals!" Luo Yangui nodded slightly, echoing Li Yun's words.

"Well said!" Li Yun nodded, speaking with implication: "However, to reach Commander He's achievements, we still need to strive! The departed are gone; the living must look forward..."

Hearing this, Luo Yangui's eyes flickered. He turned to study Li Yun and asked: "General Li, if you have something to say, speak plainly—I am all ears!"

"Good! Straight to the point!" Li Yun was not one for beating around the bush either, and said directly: "Now, Commander He has unfortunately passed away from illness, but the army cannot be without a commander. The various garrison forces defending Hebei still need someone to oversee them..."

The moment he heard the opening, Luo Yangui knew what Li Yun was getting at. After all, this man had never been one to hide his ambitions.

The corner of his mouth twitched. Luo Yangui clasped his hands toward the direction of the palace and said: "That matter is for His Majesty and the Bureau of Military Affairs to deliberate and decide. It is not for us humble generals to consider!"

"That's where you're wrong!" Li Yun shook his head, his expression turning serious, with a hint of persuasion: "An incompetent general exhausts the entire army. This concerns tens of thousands of brothers in the Hebei defenses. As frontier generals, we must pay close attention to this matter.

His Majesty and the Bureau of Military Affairs are, after all, a thousand li away. They cannot be as familiar with the details of frontier defense and the morale of the troops as we are. If they pick any commander at random, one unfamiliar with both superiors and subordinates, how could such a person bear this great responsibility? Not only would he fail to command respect, but he might even bring about disaster..."

"And what does the General suggest?" It was rare to see Li Yun so patiently laying out "reason," and Luo Yangui found himself somewhat interested. He looked at him, a hint of amusement already showing in his eyes.

Without hesitation, Li Yun spoke slowly: "In my view, below Commander-in-Chief He, in terms of seniority, ability, and familiarity with frontier affairs, only we few Army Commanders are most suited to succeed to this post. Only then can the situation remain stable and all be at ease."

"Heh heh!" Luo Yangui smiled slightly: "It seems General Li has set his sights on this position?"

A trace of embarrassment appeared on his face. Li Yun stroked his beard and said: "To be honest with you, General, I did originally have such intentions. But now that I think on it, as long as the new Commander-in-Chief comes from among us northern frontier defense commanders, I have no complaints. If the General is interested, I can submit a memorial recommending you!"

Li Yun was clearly not speaking from the heart, and Luo Yangui would hardly take him seriously. He shook his head repeatedly, showing modesty, and said: "My seniority is shallow and my abilities insufficient—how could I hold such a position? The General would do better to recommend General Ma. His Yongqing Army is strong with well-fed horses, and he is a favorite trusted general of the Son of Heaven..."

His face twitched involuntarily. A shadow of gloom flashed across Li Yun's brow, and his tone turned cold: "Ma Quanyi is not even thirty years old—how could he command the respect of the masses?"

"Then... it can only be General Li..." Luo Yangui said in a deep, lingering tone, finally giving Li Yun the words he wanted to hear.

Li Yun's face immediately lit up with joy, and he repeatedly expressed his humility. After more rambling talk, Li Yun finally revealed his true intention—he hoped Luo Yangui would submit a joint memorial with him. Of course, he had not yet directly recommended himself. He merely hoped Luo Yangui would join him in suggesting to the Emperor that the new commander be promoted from among the Hebei frontier defense generals.

In Li Yun's view, as long as the Son of Heaven felt the will of the military officers and considered their opinions, the final choice could only be him, Army Commander Li. Though his confidence was somewhat inexplicable...

After shaking off Li Yun, Luo Yangui, lost in thought, sneered repeatedly, drawing questions from the attendants beside him.

"Some people have lost their minds! Courting disaster without even knowing it—truly stupid beyond measure!" Luo Yangui cursed: "And they want to drag me into it? I'm not that foolish! The Commander-in-Chief position—if the Son of Heaven doesn't grant it and the court doesn't give it, does he think he can just ask for it himself?"

Grumbling all the way back to his lodging, Luo Yangui immediately took up his brush and wrote a memorial, recording Li Yun's affairs in detail and submitting it to the palace. He did not embellish or exaggerate—he simply recorded faithfully and plainly what he had heard.

Luo Yangui had always had keen instincts and good judgment. Just as in those days, when he had decisively killed the Liao soldiers to rise up, delivered the warhorses, and pledged his service to Liu Chengyou.

Though a man of arms, he knew his place. The Commander-in-Chief position was not something generals like them could scheme for—and Li Yun had even taken actual action, engaging in collusion. Such a taboo-breaking act—Li Yun actually dared to do it. To put it seriously, it bordered on treason.

In Luo Yangui's view, Li Yun simply did not know when he was courting death. If he did not distance himself early, he himself might be implicated. Hence, Luo Yangui's memorial was written almost in one go, submitted without any delay.

In Chongzheng Hall, when Luo Yangui's memorial was placed on Liu Chengyou's desk, he was calmly listening to Li Chongju's report—about Li Yun.

"Our Army Commander Li is quite active, isn't he? So eager to share my burdens and the court's!" Liu Chengyou's cold tone carried a note of sarcasm: "Lord He has only just passed away, and already he's scrambling about, making connections everywhere. What does he want?"

Li Chongju reported calmly: "Based on the current situation, Li Yun merely seeks the position of Commander-in-Chief. He should have no disloyal intentions."

"No disloyal intentions?" Liu Chengyou's voice rose slightly, his expression impassive, his tone icy: "Is a state military office something he may presume to covet? If I refuse to give it, will he take it himself? To scheme for the commander's seat, he privately makes connections and voices his case—what if one day he schemes for something else?"

Seeing the Son of Heaven enraged, Li Chongju's bowed body instinctively lowered a bit more, a flicker of alarm in his heart. Only now did he understand why Liu Chengyou was so angry. The Emperor always saw what others failed to consider—the imperial mind was indeed unfathomable.

Swallowing hard, Li Chongju continued: "Additionally, during these days in the capital, Army Commander Li has had a conflict with Governor Murong."

"What conflict could the two of them have?" Liu Chengyou asked.

"Due to the widening of the inner city streets, part of Li Yun's residence was taken over!" Li Chongju said: "Li Yun then approached Governor Murong demanding compensation! His attitude was so poor that the two came into conflict!"

"What an arrogant general!" Liu Chengyou suddenly thundered: "Transmit the edict—"

The words left his mouth, but Liu Chengyou stopped himself. A flicker of hesitation crossed his face, and he waved his hand at Zhang Dejun, indicating it was nothing.

Anger surging to his head, his blood boiling, Liu Chengyou had originally intended to issue an edict to have Li Yun arrested and thrown in prison. But considering that He Fujin had just died—if he suddenly seized Li Yun now, even if there were genuine cause, it would likely stir up the Hebei frontier army.

How to resolve the problem of Li Yun required careful deliberation. It could not be decided rashly, lest it cause unnecessary adverse effects.

After considering for a while longer, Liu Chengyou gave his instructions: "Wasn't Li Yun's residence damaged and encroached upon? I shall grant him a favor—give him a grand mansion in Luoyang and let him go there to choose one... You may withdraw!" Liu Chengyou said to Li Chongju. After a brief pause, he looked to Zhang Dejun: "Summon Wei Renpu, Zhe Congruan, and Guo Rong to the palace!"

"Yes!"

Regardless, the Hebei frontier defense forces needed some measure of handling. To move troops, one must first appoint the general—the frontier commander's post needed to be decided quickly, and the Army Commanders who had come to the capital also needed to be sent back.

But tightening control was an unavoidable necessity. Just for the commotion Li Yun had stirred up, restraints and stronger oversight were required. Fortunately, there was no war in the north and the border was stable, leaving ample room for the court to make adjustments.

Looking down at Luo Yangui's memorial, Liu Chengyou could not help but show a faint smile: "This Luo Yangui—just as before, sharp and dependable!"