Chapter 754: Its Own Worries

The Juma River rises in the Taihang Mountains, gathering a hundred streams, converging a thousand springs, passing through ten fords, gradually becoming a great river, finally stretching across the land south of Youzhou, rolling eastward without cease, day or night. Vast in volume and swift in current, living up to its name, like a giant horse galloping, its waters immense, together with the ravines, valleys, and springs on both banks, forming a landscape of majestic and beautiful scenery.

For a thousand years, the Juma River has nourished and nurtured the people on both banks, while also bringing no small amount of disaster and suffering. Given its geography and hydrology, the surging waters are like a violent and untamed beast that, at the slightest displeasure, will break free from the constraints of ravines and banks, encroaching upon the farmlands and dwellings along its shores.

In the past few years, when the Great Han suffered frequent floods, the middle and lower reaches of the Juma River were the hardest-hit areas, with severe losses to government, military, and civilian property. Likewise, along the Juma River lay the Great Han's northern defensive focus, the backbone of its defense line.

Along the Juma River, a cavalry force advanced from east to west, traveling against the current. A thousand riders galloped lightly, and though they flew the Han banner, their armor and uniform colors were clearly different from the Han army's. This company was none other than the Yan Prince Zhao Kuangzan and his entourage, summoned south by imperial decree.

Zhao Kuangzan was now thirty-four years old, with a square, dignified face and outstanding bearing—the kind of presence forged by long immersion in power. Clad in silver armor and a military robe, he sat among the Yan cavalry, his composed expression tinged with a hint of gravity. Their journey south had taken them through Yongqing Army, crossing the Juma River at Xiong'an Army, and now heading west toward Shun'an Army.

As usual, the one leading troops to escort Zhao Kuangzan south was Zhao Siwan, the fiercest warrior in the Yan army, also the foremost general under Zhao Kuangzan's command, leading the most elite troops of the Yan forces.

With the passage of time, the scars on Zhao Siwan's face had grown even more fierce and fearsome. As he rode forward, Zhao Siwan couldn't help but observe the surrounding terrain. After a long while, he pointed at the Juma River and said, "Your Highness, along this entire journey, following the Juma River, the Han army's defenses are extremely tight! Forts paired with rivers, bastions linked together, interlocking like dog's teeth—such density..."

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangzan snapped back to attention, glancing at him: "South of Youzhou is flat and open, with no natural defenses to rely on. The court builds fortifications and stations elite troops to guard against the Khitan—what's so strange about that?"

"Guard against the Khitan?" Zhao Siwan said immediately, looking somewhat dismissive: "Now that Han and Liao have been at peace for nearly five years, both sides have left each other alone, and the Khitan have no intention of coming south. With such tight defenses, who knows who the Han army is really guarding against?"

"Your words are rather biased!" Zhao Kuangzan furrowed his brows, staring at Zhao Siwan: "What you say carries hidden insinuation. If you have something to say, why not say it directly?"

After a moment of silence, Zhao Siwan said, "Your Highness, though I am but a simple warrior, I can see that the Han Emperor is ambitious. Now he has begun to eliminate the southern states, and once he pacifies the south, he will surely turn north with his armies.

Others may fear the Khitan, but the Han Emperor absolutely does not. Think back—when he was not yet twenty, he dared to lead fewer than ten thousand troops, seize the opportunity, and shatter a Liao army dozens of times his size, inflicting heavy casualties and dealing a grievous blow to the Hu barbarians. When Hebei was not yet settled and Khitan power still spread throughout You and Ji, he dared to send the late Prince to strike north at Youzhou, securing the northern situation for the next decade in one stroke. And we, as the Great Han's shield, have remained so to this very day.

But a sovereign like the Han Emperor would never allow the north to remain under another's control forever. In the future, he will surely march north. And once the Han army launches a great northern campaign, the first to bear the brunt will not be the Khitan—it will be our Youzhou.

When that time comes, how will Your Highness conduct yourself? How will the soldiers respond? Where will Youyan go from here?"

Hearing Zhao Siwan's discourse, Zhao Kuangzan couldn't help but show a hint of surprise, looking at him: "I never imagined that General Zhao, the tattooed warrior who eats raw barbarian flesh, could have such insight. You have truly earned my newfound respect!"

Zhao Siwan replied, "With lives at stake and futures at stake, this general had no choice but to think deeply. I have pondered this situation for many years before reaching these conclusions!"

"I still remember that in earlier years, you were quite unconvinced of the Son of Heaven, saying that the Battle of Luancheng was merely luck, a fortunate victory with exaggerated claims of results..." Zhao Kuangzan said with a light laugh.

Zhao Siwan seemed to recall his mindset from back then, and said with a bitter smile, "To be honest with Your Highness, at the time the Han Emperor was but a youth—what effect could he have on marching and fighting? I privately thought it was just gilding for his resume. On the other hand, the Battle of Luancheng may have had an element of luck, but it also required decisiveness and courage beyond the ordinary. I merely looked down on him because of his youth.

However, over these years, under his governance, the Great Han has grown increasingly prosperous, with strong soldiers and sturdy horses, conquering east and west, expanding territory and taking cities, sweeping all before them. Though I am proud, I must admit that the Han Emperor is a lord of grand strategy!"

"But such a lord of grand strategy is not necessarily a good thing for Your Highness, or for our Yan army!" Zhao Siwan sighed.

Seeing that Zhao Kuangzan remained silent, Zhao Siwan continued, "In recent years, the court has sent many officials to Youzhou. Your Highness has not rejected any of them, appointing them all to prefectural and county posts. And that Gao Fang, who has spent years in Youzhou, has built connections with a group of people, spending all his days extolling the Han Emperor's might and the court's policies—his intentions are worthy of death.

The Han army south of Youzhou has also shown increasing intent to probe northward. Ma Quanyi of Yongqing is the Han Emperor's trusted henchman, and Yongqing County was originally a subordinate county of our Youzhou. Their garrison forts have already been built within the borders of Anci and Gu'an. And those two counties are less than a hundred li from Youzhou.

As the Han army grows stronger, this general worries that one day, our Yan army will be absorbed by the court..."

"I am well aware of the concerns of you people. Then in your view, how should I respond?" Seeing that Zhao Siwan had quite a lot to say, Zhao Kuangzan looked at him and asked.

At the question, Zhao Siwan shook his head very bluntly: "Your Highness's question is too difficult for this general. I am not one who can devise solutions!"

His voice paused for a moment, then Zhao Siwan continued, "However..."

"However what?" Zhao Kuangzan asked.

"The only thing the court fears is the Khitan. With the Khitan threat present, the court presumably dares not act against us lightly. This general believes we might try to make contact with the Khitan..."

"Silence!" Before Zhao Siwan could finish, Zhao Kuangzan cut him off with a stern rebuke.

At this moment, Zhao Kuangzan's expression maintained its usual composure, but his bright eyes were majestic and murderous, awe-inspiring and fearsome. His years of accumulated authority made Zhao Siwan instinctively fall silent.

Zhao Kuangzan pondered for a while, then said solemnly, "I know that in these past few years, you have had some dealings with the Khitan. But dealings are ultimately just dealings. Relying on bandits to bolster one's own position is a sure path to death. You yourself said the Son of Heaven is formidable—attempting to use the Khitan to check the court would only offend his majesty and invite his wrath!

Moreover, we have garrisoned Youzhou for many years, and our hatred for the Khitan runs deep. In the early years of Qianyou, those years of continuous battle and slaughter—you came through that storm of blood yourself. Wasn't your reputation as General Zhao forged in the slaughter against Liao cavalry?

So many civilians have died, and most of the officers and soldiers in our army have fathers, brothers, sons, and nephews who perished at Khitan hands. Blood feuds are hard to dissolve. Leaning toward the Khitan would not only betray the court—it would betray the twenty thousand soldiers of the Yan army..."

"Your Highness's instruction is correct. This general understands—I was just speaking offhandedly!" Seeing Zhao Kuangzan's grave and unyielding expression, Zhao Siwan promptly backed down.

Of course, in his heart, he was still somewhat unconvinced. After all, in his view, no matter how deep the hatred, after so many years it would fade and ease somewhat. As one could see from the trade between the people of Youyan and the Khitan in recent years, not many people went about their money transactions with faces full of hatred.

Liao's horses, cattle, sheep, furs, medicinal herbs, and other goods were all profitable for the people of Youyan. After a few more years of comfortable living, how many would truly remember the hatred?

Speaking of hatred, it was the court's people who, openly and covertly, kept preaching vigilance and hostility...

After considering for a moment, Zhao Siwan spoke again: "Your Highness, regardless of everything, there is one point we must remain vigilant about. When the Han Emperor made his first northern inspection tour, he promised that Your Highness would govern Youyan forever, with hereditary succession.

However, in these past three or four years, the court has continuously reduced the power of the feudal lords. Of all the realms under heaven, aside from the Dingnan Army, only our stronghold of Youzhou remains. We are bound to be a thorn in their side, something they wish to remove and be done with.

It is not that this general is given to baseless suspicion, but does Your Highness truly believe the Han Emperor and the court will allow our Youzhou to exist in near independence?"

These words finally made Zhao Kuangzan's expression change drastically, turning somber and grave. After a long while, he let out a deep sigh: "That phrase 'govern Youyan forever, with hereditary succession' now makes me feel as if I'm standing at the edge of an abyss, unable to advance or retreat..."

"Your Highness, this general is but a rough man!" Having finally glimpsed a hint of the Yan Prince's thoughts, Zhao Siwan suddenly spoke with solemnity: "I cannot guarantee much else, but in the future, if the court seeks to swallow up our Yan army, I will never sit idly by and let them have their way! I will defend Your Highness to the death!"