Chapter 660: Drinking Wine, Roasting Meat, Discussing Jinghu

A day later, Wang Yan, the Defender of the Western Capital, sent a man to present the Imperial Jade Seal at the palace gates as an offering. The Emperor received it, passed it around for the assembled ministers to admire, and all declared it genuine. Greatly pleased, he immediately proclaimed it to the realm.

In truth, even if the seal were a forgery, Liu Chengyou intended to treat it as genuine. After all, it was merely a tool for uniting hearts and minds. Jade might be precious, but what mattered more was the inherited value and symbolism attached to the stone. Liu Chengyou could easily find another fine jade, have it carved and inscribed, and bestow upon it the meaning of a dynastic seal—if he said it was real, then it was real.

"Having received the Mandate of Heaven, may it endure in prosperity forever!" Liu Chengyou murmured, a perpetually cynical smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he toyed with the precious seal that the civil officials regarded with such solemnity, as if he were truly fiddling with a plaything.

"Your Majesty's acquisition of this precious seal is truly a sign of Heaven's favor. Not only the court ministers, but even the scholars and commoners of the Eastern Capital are overjoyed, cheering for Your Majesty and the Great Han!" Zhang Dejun, seeing that the Emperor was in an excellent mood, offered flattery from the side.

Noting the faint trace of sycophancy on the eunuch's face, Liu Chengyou tilted his head and regarded Zhang Dejun with slight curiosity: "Is that so? That's the reaction outside the palace? Have your spies and underlings spread all the way beyond the palace walls?"

Zhang Dejun was not old in years, yet he was already a famed senior eunuch within the palace. At least within the Han palace, his power and influence were considerable, and he held real authority. Moreover, at Liu Chengyou's behest, he had secretly organized a network of informants to monitor the imperial city inside and out—though not as formal as the Wude Office. In this way, Liu Chengyou's eyes and ears were finally spread throughout, within and without.

Meeting the Son of Heaven's smiling gaze, Zhang Dejun's heart skipped a beat. Unable to gauge Liu Chengyou's intent, he responded with a respectful and humble smile: "This humble one heard it from the palace attendants who go out to purchase supplies!"

"Oh!" Liu Chengyou acknowledged, withdrawing his gaze. He set down the jade seal, waved his hand, and instructed: "Put it away!"

"Your Majesty, Commissioner of Military Affairs Guo Rong and Palace Chief Commander Murong Yanzhao request an audience outside the hall!"

"Prepare some wine and meat in the corridor outside the hall. I shall dine with my two ministers!" Liu Chengyou ordered.

"Yes!"

In the corridor outside the hall, a wide dining table was set up, and a charcoal brazier was erected—both for warmth and for roasting meat. Wine was warming at the side, a dozen or so plates of skewered mutton were stacked in layers, and seasonings such as Sichuan pepper, oil, and salt were laid out...

Snow began to drift down outside again, not heavy, and the biting wind was dispelled by the rising warmth. The sovereign and his two ministers sat facing each other. Liu Chengyou personally played host with practiced ease, calling out to Guo Rong and Murong Yanzhao: "Today we all fend for ourselves—the three of us, sovereign and ministers, drinking wine and roasting meat! Speaking of it, under this sparse snowfall, moving about to warm ourselves and fill our bellies has its own charm!"

"Since Your Majesty has such refined taste, we ministers naturally shall keep you company!" Murong Yanzhao did not stand on ceremony, directly picking up the wine vessel and pouring for Liu Chengyou and Guo Rong in turn.

"I dare not speak of refined taste!" Liu Chengyou picked up a skewer of mutton and pointed at the wine cup with a smile: "Civil officials and lofty scholars speak of elegance—I merely have a craving for wine!"

Hearing this, Murong Yanzhao said: "Your Majesty bestows wine and meat—we two ministers shall enjoy ourselves thoroughly!"

The three clinked cups, and the warm wine went down, spreading warmth through their bodies. The imperial palace wine carried a slight sweetness. Guo Rong picked up a skewer of meat, placed it over the fire, brushed on oil, sprinkled salt—his movements were practiced and smooth, his expression somewhat relaxed. He said: "Your Majesty manages a myriad of affairs daily and rarely has leisure. Summoning us two here today—surely it cannot be merely for wine and meat..."

"As expected of Chancellor Guo, renowned both within and beyond—one word from you and we're already on to business!" Liu Chengyou rarely joked with Guo Rong. He favored strong flavors, sprinkling extra salt on his mutton, taking care to distribute it evenly.

Lifting his head to gaze at the flying snow outside the hall, Liu Chengyou remarked with feeling: "It's already the twelfth month. Before another month passes, the seventh year of Qianyou will be over. Zhao Pu is likely already on the road into Shu. With that man's abilities, this campaign against Shu will surely conclude as I envision.

With Hanzhong settled, I am resolved to reorganize troops in the southwest, stockpile grain and military equipment, open up roads, secure the rear, and digest the newly taken prefectures. But the Great Han's pace toward unifying the realm must not stop!"

As Liu Chengyou finished speaking, both men's expressions grew more serious. Toasting Liu Chengyou, Guo Rong said: "Your Majesty intends to move against Jinghu?"

"Correct!" Liu Chengyou nodded, making no attempt to conceal it. In truth, the Emperor had long contemplated Jinghu—this was nearly common knowledge among the upper echelons of the court. It was only because of Qinfeng that the southwestern problem had to be resolved first.

Now that the four prefectures had fallen, and Hanzhong had been taken along the way, Shu's military strength and national power had been severely crippled. Since Liu Chengyou had stated he had no intention of destroying Shu for now, the strategic turn could only target Jingnan and Hunan as the most suitable objectives.

The aroma of meat had begun to waft through the air. Liu Chengyou couldn't help but take a deep breath and said: "I want to hear your views."

"The benefits of taking Jinghu need no elaboration—I naturally approve! But the southwestern campaign has just concluded, and the follow-up still requires national support. Whether the court has the surplus strength to campaign against Jinghu, and when to dispatch troops—that requires Your Majesty and the assembled lords to deliberate!" Murong Yanzhao was very direct, stating his position plainly.

Taking a bite of the roasted meat and downing a cup of wine, a look of satisfaction crossing his face, Liu Chengyou turned his gaze to Guo Rong.

Guo Rong considered for a moment, then said with sudden seriousness: "If possible, it would be best to dispatch troops in the spring of next year!"

Hearing this, not only Murong Yanzhao but even Liu Chengyou couldn't help but frown: "Wouldn't that be too hasty? Tell me your reasoning!"

Guo Rong replied calmly: "The Gao clan of Jingnan need not be a concern. Gao Baorong is weak and cowardly, mediocre in ability, inheriting his position merely by birth. According to intelligence from the military information office, in recent years, as the Great Han has grown ever stronger with its edge showing, Gao Baorong has grown increasingly fearful, not daring to offend or defy in any way, spending his days neglecting state affairs and indulging in pleasure at his princely residence.

I suspect that Gao Baorong has in fact already prepared to be absorbed by the Great Han. If the court dispatches troops southward and handles things properly, we may take all of Jingnan without shedding a drop of blood, then advance into Hunan!"

"If we can force the Gao clan to surrender, that would naturally be best!" Liu Chengyou mused: "Now tell me about Hunan!"

"The key to the Jinghu strategy lies precisely in Hunan. Your Majesty has surely heard of the current situation in Hunan. Zhang Wenbiao is ultimately a mere brute, unworthy of support—arrogant, extravagant, and pleasure-seeking. The soldiers and civilians under his rule have largely grown to detest him. Had it not been for this year's great famine in Hunan, he would likely have already been swallowed up by Zhou Xingfeng.

According to news from Hunan, this year's famine is the most severe in recent years. Countless commoners can only eat grass and bark to survive. Yet in the midst of this great disaster, it presents an opportunity for Zhou Xingfeng to win people's hearts.

He has opened the granaries in the prefectures of Tan, Lang, and Heng to distribute grain for relief, saving countless lives. Even the people under Zhang Wenbiao's rule who fled north seeking survival were all given rations. From this, one can see Zhou Xingfeng's ambition. Though fierce in temperament, he possesses extraordinary methods and boldness of vision—that is why the scholars and commoners are willing to follow him.

As long as he survives past next year, he can march south at any time, easily taking Zhang Wenbiao and reunifying Hunan. And when our dynasty seeks to advance south, the obstacles and resistance will be even greater!"

Liu Chengyou took out two more skewers of meat, turning them over the flames and sprinkling on seasonings, staring at them in a daze. In his deep, focused gaze, the two skewers seemed to transform—one called Jingnan, the other called Hunan.

Guo Rong drank a cup of wine, his enthusiasm growing, and continued: "The reason I recommend dispatching troops in the spring of next year is precisely because Hunan is suffering great famine, and Zhou Xingfeng has opened his granaries to relieve the people. Come spring, he will need to expend grain for seed. His treasuries will be even more depleted.

Even if he has some troops under his command with a modicum of fighting ability, how can they withstand our army's offensive without adequate grain? Though the southwestern campaign against Shu consumed enormous resources, given the court's current national strength, dispatching a force of infantry and cavalry southward poses little problem!

If we initiate matters in Hunan, using the strategy of 'borrowing passage to destroy Guo,' we first take Jingnan, and we can also use the Lady Gao's troops, money, and grain as support. Though Jingnan's territory is small and its people not wealthy, the Lady Gao has governed it for many years with little warfare—there should be some accumulated reserves..."

"Minister Guo, you're already treating Jingnan as something in your pocket!" Liu Chengyou finally spoke, his tone relatively relaxed.

Guo Rong took a bite of meat, chewed slowly and swallowed before saying: "I know I must not harbor a contemptuous attitude, but given the current situation of the Gao clan of Jingnan, there's no need to overestimate them either!"

"Do you have a plan in mind for how to mobilize the troops?" Liu Chengyou asked directly.