Chapter 636: Great Victory

It was with a beaming, joyful air that a middle-aged official in a crimson robe came to report to Liu Chengyou. He wore a short beard, had a dignified countenance, and an outstanding bearing. Though a civil official, he was noticeably lacking in scholarly airs. This man was none other than Zhao Pu.

Among the staff and advisors recruited by Liu Ci, Zhao Pu and Chu Zhaofu were the most renowned. Acting on Liu Ci's strong recommendation, Liu Chengyou received only these two men. Chu Zhaofu was over forty, known for his competence, outstanding administrative ability, and rich experience in governance. When Liu Chengyou questioned him, his responses were quite quick-witted, and so he was immediately appointed Prefect of Cangzhou, with the seal affixed to the commission.

As for Zhao Pu, even if only for the great reputation he had left in history, Liu Chengyou regarded him highly, granting him the office of Supervising Secretary, serving at Chongzheng Hall, attending before the imperial presence, and participating in deliberations on military and political affairs.

Those who could carve out such a name for themselves in the long river of history were all elites of their eras, and Zhao Pu was clearly among the most outstanding. Moreover, in the course of their exchanges, Liu Chengyou discovered that although this man was no erudite scholar and did not read with meticulous care, he was quick of mind, broad of vision, not bound by convention, and extremely adept at adapting to circumstances.

This gave Liu Chengyou a feeling of "novelty." One had to know that the chancellors and bureaucrats of the Great Han court were mostly conservative and obstinate, and the longer the contact, the stronger this feeling grew in Liu Chengyou. The most prominent example was Chancellor Fan Zhi, who over the past two years had repeatedly differed with Liu Chengyou in governance, judgment, and decision-making, and had stubbornly argued his positions.

Zhao Pu was different. Since entering the palace to take up his post, every conversation with him yielded something, and most discussions flowed smoothly. Between sovereign and minister, sparks of thought clashed fiercely...

In fact, many of the reform policies Liu Chengyou had implemented since ascending the throne were modeled on what Zhao Pu had originally devised for Zhao Kuangyin in the historical record. Thus, in matters of statecraft and strategy, the two often held identical or similar views. Zhao Pu also gave extremely high praise and recognition to Liu Chengyou's vigorous governance and his handling of administration and the military. Though the two had worked together for only a short time, there was a sense of sovereign and minister being as one, of shared aspirations and compatible temperaments.

Within less than half a year of entering officialdom, everyone above and below knew that another new luminary was about to join the court.

During this period, what weighed on Liu Chengyou's mind was the Yellow River flood crisis, and what he was concerned about was the war in Qinfeng. This time, Zhao Pu had come on his orders to inquire about the latest military intelligence at the Bureau of Military Affairs, and the result was good news.

"Has the war reached a conclusion?" Liu Chengyou's furrowed brow relaxed as he looked at Zhao Pu.

"Your Majesty, a great victory!" Zhao Pu reported excitedly: "Commander-in-Chief Xiang laid plans to shatter the Shu army, annihilating over fifty thousand enemies in total. The elite and battle-hardened troops of Shu were nearly wiped out in a single campaign!"

"Finally, the news I've been waiting for has come!" Liu Chengyou raised his hand and clenched his fist, a look of exhilaration appearing on his face: "Xiang Xun has not disappointed my expectations after all!"

"Go, notify all the chancellors, the heads of the various ministries, bureaus, and courts, as well as the commanders of the two armies, to convene at Chongzheng Hall for deliberation!" Liu Chengyou instructed Zhang Dejun, then looked at Zhao Pu: "Tell me the detailed situation."

"Yes!"

The joyful emotion quickly receded, and Liu Chengyou's expression turned into one of relief.

Before long, in Chongzheng Hall, high civil and military officials gathered, each wearing a relaxed expression, having all received the news of the breakthrough and great victory in the southwestern war. Even civil officials like Li Tao and Fan Zhi could not help but feel a sense of gratification, with expressions of dispelled worry on their faces.

"... On the eighteenth, the Shu army took the initiative to attack, advancing on two routes. One route of three thousand soldiers advanced to station at Baijian; another route of five thousand soldiers, under the command of Shu general Han Jixun, attacked Huanghua Valley, intending to cut off our grain route and line of retreat.

This was detected by the southwestern commanders, who made a swift decision, sending Inner Palace Guard Commander Shi Shouxin to lead troops to repel the enemy. Shi Shouxin divided his forces into two routes — one to attack Tangcang, the other to rush to the mouth of Huanghua Valley and set up an ambush. That evening, they struck the attacking Shu army hard. Han Jixun fled in defeat to Tangcang, where he was blocked by Captain Han Chongyun, who had seized the town and fortress, and surrendered. In the battles of Huanghua Valley and Tangcang, our army killed and captured over three thousand men.

Afterwards, Generals Shi and Han combined their forces, rested, and then moved north, threatening the Shu army at Baijian. Having first heard of the defeat, and with their line of retreat cut off, their morale was shaken. They were broken in a single battle, with half surrendering.

On the nineteenth, Commander-in-Chief Xiang Xun attacked Weiwu City with fire, deploying fifty catapult carts and expending all two thousand four hundred fire-oil bombs. At that time, the vegetation inside and outside Weiwu City was dense, and the climate was dry. The fire rose and spread with the wind, raging for dozens of li, killing all birds and beasts, and only stopping at nightfall when autumn rain fell. Under the great fire, the Shu army hastily withdrew from the pass and fell back to defend Liangquan City, leaving over four thousand corpses in the city, fortresses, and along the roads.

On the twentieth, the main army advanced with the Longqi Army as the vanguard, pursuing the Shu army. The central army followed behind, pressing close to Liangquan and encircling the Shu army.

On the twenty-first, the Shu army, newly defeated and now newly besieged, had shaken morale, low fighting spirit, and completely lost courage. The main army attacked the city with full force and breached it in half a day. Longqi Army Chief Commander Gao Huaide led his men in being the first to scale the walls and enter the city.

In the Battle of Liangquan, of over thirty thousand Shu troops, five thousand were killed or wounded, twelve thousand surrendered, and countless scattered and fled. Shu general Gao Yandui was wounded and captured. Commander-in-Chief Li Tinggui and Army Supervisor Zhao Chongtao led troops in breaking out and retreating to Maling Fortress. In the city, one hundred fifty thousand dan of grain and rice, along with all the armor, weapons, money, and silk in the various storehouses, were seized by our army.

On the twenty-second, our army pressed the pursuit. Wang Quanbin led the Xingjie Army in successive battles and broke Maling Fortress. Wang Renshan led his forces on a roundabout route to attack Guzhen, intending to cut off the retreat of the remaining Shu troops.

On the twenty-third, Li Tinggui fell back to defend Qingni Ridge, intending to put up a desperate resistance. Upon hearing of Wang Renshan's army's movements, he abandoned the fortress and fled. Along the way, he was intercepted by our army again. In the end, Li Tinggui gathered his remaining forces and withdrew to Chengzhou, with only three thousand soldiers left.

At this point, the Shu army of over fifty thousand in Fengzhou was entirely broken by our army, and the whole of Fengzhou territory was restored to the Great Han."

In the hall, after hearing the detailed account by Li Chuyun, recipient of imperial edicts at the Bureau of Military Affairs, everyone was delighted — after all, they had won a battle, and a great victory at that. During this period, the Fengzhou campaign had dragged on without results and consumed much resources, drawing muted criticism from court officials. And recently, with signs of the Yellow River floods recurring, a group of officials led by Li Tao and Fan Zhi had submitted repeated memorials requesting the withdrawal of the main army.

Although Liu Chengyou had suppressed these with force, being forceful all the time was ultimately not conducive to the relationship between sovereign and minister, causing some instability in the harmony of the court. But now, with the victory dispatch arriving, the victor was still the Emperor, and the southwestern officers and men had proven with concrete results that the Emperor's firmness was justified.

"Director Li has spoken so much in one breath, fully detailing the military situation — his mouth must be dry. Someone, bring Director Li a cup of tea!" Liu Chengyou said in a relaxed tone, directing the palace eunuchs.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Chuyun bowed respectfully.

"In the Battle of Fengzhou, our army has won a great victory! After this battle, the Shu army has suffered heavy losses in strength, and their national power has greatly diminished, laying the foundation for our army to advance south into Hanzhong and Chuanshu!" Guo Rong stepped forward and declared loudly with excitement.

Liu Chengyou nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Li Tao and Fan Zhi, and asked with a leisurely smile: "Ministers Li and Fan, can this victory dispatch resolve the worries in your hearts? Has your anxiety been dispelled?"

Upon hearing this, Li and Fan exchanged a glance. A hint of embarrassment appeared on Li Tao's face as he bowed and said: "Your Majesty, your minister's vision was shortsighted, and I was borrowing trouble, even attempting to obstruct Your Majesty's grand plan. The great victory in the southwest — your minister is deeply ashamed and begs Your Majesty to punish me!"

Fan Zhi's expression remained serious as usual, but he too yielded to the Emperor: "Your Majesty sees far and wide, with keen vision and insight into the war situation. Your minister is foolish and stubborn in his opinions, spoke rashly, and recklessly discussed withdrawing the army. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

"Enough!" Seeing the two ministers adopt this posture, Liu Chengyou displayed his magnanimity, lightly raising his hand: "You two need not blame yourselves. I know that you were also acting with single-minded devotion to the public good, thinking of the nation. Moreover, I have never punished anyone for their words!"

"Your Majesty is wise and enlightened!" The two ministers bowed deeply.

"Now that the southwest is singing songs of victory, do you two have any further objections regarding the coming operations?" Liu Chengyou asked again.

Li Tao, as Chief Chancellor, spoke first: "Your ministers will surely be of one mind, united in purpose, and fully support the southwestern army in its operations!"

Fan Zhi appeared more reserved, but judging from his expression, he clearly would not oppose again — at least regarding the southwestern war, he would no longer voice objections.

"Issue an edict commending and honoring the officers and men who distinguished themselves in this battle. Record all their merits in the registers, to be ready for post-war evaluation and reward. Send envoys to Fengzhou to convey condolences to the commanders. The relevant offices shall promptly replenish all lost grain, fodder, and military equipment — they must not delay military matters." Liu Chengyou gave his orders from his elevated seat: "Additionally, the Propaganda Bureau shall publicize this battle throughout the realm!"

"Yes!"