Chapter 642: At the Time of National Crisis

To dismiss Wang Zhaoyuan as utterly worthless would be somewhat biased. Regardless, he was indeed a highly intelligent man whose views on matters could always be self-consistent, and his insight and foresight did have their merits. Had he been a thoroughly mediocre and useless man, even as fatuous as Meng Chang was, he would not have continued to trust him and entrust him with military and political affairs even after successive major defeats and in a time of national crisis.

Wang Zhaoyuan's problem lay roughly in having high aims but low abilities, lacking practical talent, knowing himself but not his enemy, and being too presumptuous in everything. With his thinking and eloquence, even before Liu Chengyou, he might be able to converse freely about the affairs of the realm without hesitation...

At this moment, seeing Meng Chang show hesitation, Wang Zhaoyuan spoke again: "Your Majesty, it is far from the time for peace talks. The Sichuan roads are steep and narrow, and at Jian'ge one man can hold the pass against ten thousand. As long as morale is roused, we can certainly repel the Han troops."

"Moreover, to seek peace at this time is no different from begging for peace. What humiliation would Your Majesty have to endure, and how much loss would the Great Shu have to suffer, before the Northern Han would cease their campaign? The story of the Southern Tang two years ago — Your Majesty must take it as a warning!"

"The Southern Tang had the natural barrier of the Yangtze and the advantage of a navy, yet they could not put these to use, lost their armies, humiliated their state, and ceded territory to sue for peace. Our dynasty still holds the advantage of natural defenses — how can we discuss peace without even fighting?"

"The Northern Han has stirred up the calamity of war, brazenly invading our dynasty to the south, killing our sons and brothers, destroying our homes. Every scholar and commoner in Shu gnashes their teeth in hatred. With popular sentiment surging, to protect their native homes, they will surely rise generously to face the national crisis and repel the enemy beyond the passes..."

Regardless, Wang Zhaoyuan could always shout this slogan loudly. Seeing his face full of righteous indignation and surging heroism, Meng Chang seemed somewhat infected by it, a flash of excitement passing through his eyes.

"Your Majesty!" At this moment, Chancellor Wu Zhaoyi stepped forward, cupping his hands and saying: "In recent years, due to the wars in the north, our dynasty has suffered enormous losses of troops, money, and grain. Even with years of accumulated reserves, the state treasury can no longer sustain it. Commissioner Wang has grand strategies and commendable ambition, but the manpower and financial resources required — the state simply cannot support them. Your Majesty has newly built the Crystal Palace..."

"Enough!" Like a rabbit whose tail had been stepped on, Meng Chang loudly cut off Wu Zhaoyi, saying angrily: "I have governed Shu and nurtured its scholars for twenty years. The state is wealthy and the people prosperous — and yet when the national crisis arrives, it proves insufficient? Utterly ridiculous! Resisting the Han concerns matters of survival. All money, grain, weapons, and manpower required must be supplied by the court without shortage. Otherwise, I will not forgive lightly."

Saying this, he looked at Wu Zhaoyi, Li Hao, Ouyang Jiong and the others, and said sternly: "You are all chancellors, holding the governance of the state, eating the sovereign's salary, receiving the state's grace. Now in these troubled times, I do not ask you to exhaust yourselves utterly or burn the candle at both ends — I only hope you can fulfill your duties and have no shame before your own consciences!"

He then turned to Wang Zhaoyuan, equally severe in countenance, and said solemnly: "This winter, the troops, military preparations, and border defenses must all be perfected. I do not wish to hear reports of defeat again!"

"Yes!" Judging by Meng Chang's attitude, he was clearly still on Wang Zhaoyuan's side, but at the same time, he had also placed considerable pressure on him.

Just as they were about to conclude the council, an inner attendant hurried up to the hall. When asked, he replied that Zhao Jizha, the Military Governor of Xiongwu, had fled back to Chengdu.

Upon hearing this, Meng Chang was even more furious: "He still has the face to return to Chengdu? I entrusted the Xiongwu Army to him, yet he accomplished nothing, sat by and watched the outcome, and as the commanding general, actually abandoned his comrades and fled back on his own! What use is there in keeping such a man?"

For the sovereign and ministers of Shu, although Li Tinggui had lost battle after battle, at least he was still putting up fierce resistance, fighting back at every step. In comparison, this Zhao Jizha appeared utterly incompetent — sitting at the head of a great army, doing nothing, and abandoning his troops to return.

Therefore, no one spoke up to defend or plead for him. Chancellor Li Hao had a good relationship with Zhao Jizha, but under these circumstances, he dared not say a word.

"Zhao Jizha, covered in disgrace, kneels at the palace gate, requesting an audience with Your Majesty!"

"What use is there in seeing him?" Meng Chang gave his sleeve a vigorous flick, his handsome face twisted with ferocity: "So I can listen to him detail in person how he lost the battle, how he abandoned his army?"

"Issue the decree — have Zhao Jizha taken in a prison cart to the market crossroads and beheaded, to uphold military discipline and make clear the law of the state!" Meng Chang ordered directly.

"Your Majesty, Zhao Jizha certainly has his crimes, but without due trial and sentencing, is it not..." Hearing this, Chancellor Ouyang Jiong could not help but speak up.

Turning his head away directly, Meng Chang wore an expression of lost patience and said: "Does this man's crime still require a trial? Issue the decree immediately — carry it out upon arrival, do not delay, and say no more!"

"Yes!"

After pondering for a moment, Meng Chang spoke again: "Issue a decree to Xingyuan Prefecture — strip Li Tinggui of his title and office, demote him to a deputy general, and keep him on the front lines. Appoint Zhao Chongtao as Commander-in-Chief of Northern Defense, commanding all the armies of Hanzhong to resist the Northern Han invasion!"

Originally, Meng Chang had intended to punish Li Tinggui severely, but the contrast with Zhao Jizha changed his mind. Li Tinggui could not escape blame for his defeats, but his conduct and deeds in the north had been heard of — he had done his duty and exerted his efforts. Now was precisely the time when men were needed, and commanders were in short supply. In the end, Meng Chang gave him a chance to atone for his crimes through merit, hoping he would be emboldened by shame and kill the enemy to wash away his disgrace.

"Your Majesty still trusts Wang Zhaoyuan heavily and entrusts him with military and political affairs. If this continues, the state is surely doomed!" After the court session dispersed, two old ministers walked side by side, Li Hao sighing with emotion.

Wu Zhaoyi, dressed in luxurious robes with an air of nobility, also expressed some helplessness upon hearing this: "Aside from Wang Zhaoyuan, who in the entire court can still manage military and political affairs and enjoy His Majesty's favor? And who has the boldness and ability to take over military matters and resist the Han army?"

Hearing this, Li Hao could not help but shake his head: "I long ago advised Your Majesty that the Northern Han is powerful and cannot be opposed by force — we should repair relations with them to preserve peace!"

Looking at Li Hao, Wu Zhaoyi's eyes flickered slightly, a strange light rising in his aged eyes, as if speaking to himself: "Some of Wang Zhaoyuan's arguments and views actually have merit. The Central Plains is strong, and the Han ruler is greedy and violent — he will surely seek unification and sooner or later send troops against our Chuanshu. How could he allow our dynasty to remain content in this corner?

It is only a pity that the millions of people of Shu have enjoyed peace for so long — it will be hard to return to tranquil days again! Since the defeat in the north, many refugees from Xingyuan Prefecture and elsewhere have already fled south!

The difficulty of the state treasury is plain for all to see, yet Your Majesty still wishes to conscript soldiers and expand military preparations. Perhaps before long, the entire court will have to tighten its belt!"

Hearing Wu Zhaoyi's lament, Li Hao subconsciously touched his jade belt and the jade ring on his hand. With the state in crisis and the realm unsettled, even though they, as high officials and important ministers, still wore fine clothes and ate delicacies, their hearts were equally uneasy.

"For military affairs and armaments, the court must still give full support — we must repel the enemy beyond the gates of the state!" Li Hao said firmly.

"Everything requires money and grain — how is the depletion of the state treasury to be replenished?" Wu Zhaoyi sighed.

After a moment of silence, Li Hao said: "We can only raise taxes to fund the army. With the national crisis upon us, all scholars and commoners across the realm should make their contributions and unite their efforts to repel the enemy!"

A gust of cool wind swept past, not particularly cold, yet Li Hao could not help but shiver. Lifting his eyes to look at the sky above the Shu palace, a pallid whiteness filled it, and his thoughts drifted far away. The current predicament of Shu reminded him of the final days of the Former Shu. Although the politics of the Later Shu had not yet sunk to that level of chaos and darkness, the might of the external enemy was even greater than that of the Later Tang in those days.

With the ministers' hearts unsettled and restless, Meng Chang's mood could not possibly be good. His face bore signs of haggardness; the situation in the north filled him with extreme anxiety. Since the report of defeat at Liangquan had come from the south, he had not slept a single peaceful night.

Strolling idly, he walked to the shore of Mohe Pond. Gazing out, he could see a brand-new palace rising from the ground upon the pond. Ever since he had conceived the idea last year, Meng Chang had ordered its construction, to be used for escaping the summer heat.

Now it had already taken shape. Though not yet fully completed, its luxury and extravagance were already visible. Especially those great halls — nanmu for pillars, agarwood for beams, coral inlaid in the windows, jasper for the doors. The surrounding walls, built not of brick or stone but adorned with colored glass and pearls, were transparent within and without, shining day and night — hence it was called the Crystal Palace.

However, now that the palace was nearly complete, before he could enjoy it to his heart's content with Lady Huarui, the national crisis had arrived. At this time, although Meng Chang was somewhat lax, he had not yet completely degenerated.

Blown by the cold wind, his robes fluttering, gazing at that extravagantly opulent Crystal Palace, Meng Chang suddenly felt a moment of clarity. Considering his years of frugality and reflecting on the difficulties of state affairs, a strong sense of guilt welled up in his heart.

"Your Majesty, the wind by the pond is strong and the chill is heavy — please return to the palace!" A close attendant stepped forward proactively, draping a fox-fur cloak over Meng Chang, and said with concern. Seeing him staring at the palace, he added: "Before long, Your Majesty and Lady Huifei will be able to move into the Crystal Palace..."

Hearing this, Meng Chang's brows knit involuntarily. Looking at the scene beyond the halls on the pond, where greenery was still being planted and red bridges built, he could not help but open his mouth. There was an impulse — he wanted to order the Crystal Palace demolished to supplement military funds. But in the end, he could not bring himself to do it.

After all, so much money, grain, and rare treasures had been spent, such a great price paid — it would be a pity to destroy it outright. After a long while, Meng Chang tightened his fox-fur cloak and said solemnly: "Transmit the order — from today onward, all palace expenditures are to be reduced. Each palace's budget shall be issued according to the levels of the early Guangzheng era!"