Chapter 755: Zhao Siwan's Far-Reaching Schemes

"Are these your own thoughts?" Zhao Kuangzan's expression turned exceptionally grave, his gaze sharp as lightning, staring directly at Zhao Siwan.

The Yan King's gaze was somewhat intimidating, and Zhao Siwan was momentarily cowed, his eyes darting away before he replied: "Besides myself, there are many Yan army officers who feel the same. Your Highness need not worry—the soldiers all support you!"

Zhao Kuangzan couldn't help but smile, asking: "From what you're saying, it sounds like you've prepared yourselves to clash with the court?"

"If the court goes too far and leaves no room for maneuver, we will certainly not submit willingly!" Zhao Siwan's tone carried a vicious edge, the scar on his face growing more prominent, his whole bearing suffused with ruthless resolve: "Since the Han Emperor made promises to Your Highness, if he breaks them, he will lose credibility before the realm. We hold the strong city of Youzhou, with elite and sharp troops—enough to rely upon in defense against the court."

"Do you think that with the three prefectures of Youyan, a population of less than two hundred thousand, and troops numbering no more than twenty thousand, we can contend with the court's millions of people and million-strong army?" Zhao Kuangzan countered.

"Your Highness need not exaggerate the court's strength!" Zhao Siwan waved his hand: "Though the court now has several hundred thousand troops and millions of people, they must garrison every region, and their four borders are hardly peaceful. Even if they truly conquer the southern states in the future, they will need to station heavy forces to hold them. And if they harbor intentions to march north—if they send few troops, they cannot threaten us; if they send many, how could the Khitan sit idly by?"

The more Zhao Siwan spoke, the more excited he became—perhaps from agitation, his mouth and throat felt dry as he looked at Zhao Kuangzan: "We certainly should not collude with the Khitan, but borrowing their momentum is still permissible. If the court dares to move against us, they will have to think twice, fearing that we might completely break ties and defect to the Khitan.

As long as the court has reservations, we will have ample room to maneuver, maintaining the current situation and prolonging it indefinitely—that is not impossible. In this way, Your Highness will rule Youyan for generations, and the soldiers can enjoy peace and prosperity!"

Hearing this, Zhao Kuangzan let out a long sigh, his expression remaining calm as he said: "Just now you told me there was no solution, but now it seems you've already had plans in mind, and quite thorough ones at that!"

"To be frank with Your Highness, we have no intention of rebelling against the court. But if the court treats us as it has treated other military provinces—killing the donkey after it finishes the mill work, burning the bridge after crossing the river—then we should not sit and wait for death. Does Your Highness truly accept being bound hand and foot, at the mercy of others?" Zhao Siwan said.

Zhao Siwan's thinking was very dangerous. Previously, Gao Fang, the Surveillance Commissioner of Lulong, had advised Liu Chengyou that this man harbored duplicitous intentions, was unruly and intractable, and was no loyal subject. Liu Chengyou had also given Gao Fang instructions to find an opportunity to eliminate him—but eliminating a great Yan army general who held military power was no easy matter. The key issue was that the Yan King, Zhao Kuangzan, deeply trusted this general under his command.

At this moment, Zhao Siwan had truly laid his heart bare to Zhao Kuangzan, and he was quite confident, believing that Zhao Kuangzan could not possibly give up the power and position in his hands. To resist the court and preserve Youzhou and the Yan army, without Zhao Kuangzan taking the lead, relying on these military officers alone would accomplish nothing.

"These insights and ideas—surely they didn't come from you alone!" Zhao Kuangzan's expression slowly returned to calm as he suddenly asked.

"Your Highness truly understands your servant—I am but a crude man, how could I fully comprehend such matters on my own?" Zhao Siwan smiled and replied: "To be honest with Your Highness, these were deliberated by some literati in Youzhou. Our land of Youyan is not lacking in talent, and these men are useful. If Your Highness wishes to consolidate the three prefectures, you cannot do without the assistance of such learned men!"

"General Zhao, who has always been all about fighting and killing, trusting only force—now you've learned to respect civil officials. I feel I must look at you with new eyes..." Zhao Kuangzan said.

"I believe Your Highness should promote the civil officials of Youyan, lest the court's people usurp the authority over civil administration!" Zhao Siwan suggested.

"All these years, haven't the officers in the army been despising civil officials, thinking them useless, demanding from me county and prefecture posts and civil authority?" Zhao Kuangzan said with a hint of amusement.

Hearing this, Zhao Siwan's eyes widened, and he said: "What do those louts know? Can they manage grain, money, and farmland? Can they read household registers and legal documents?"

"The words are crude, but the reasoning is sound!" Zhao Kuangzan commented.

Yet as he turned away, a flicker of something unusual passed through Zhao Kuangzan's eyes. This Zhao Siwan, originally renowned for his ferocity and valor, was his most ruthless battle commander. But now, he seemed to have gained a measure of cunning—knowing how to think, how to look toward the future, how to value civil officials.

Originally, within the Yan army system, there had been a faction led by Zhao Siwan, and it had been steadily growing stronger over the years. And now it seemed this Zhao Siwan wanted not only to dominate the military but also to extend his reach into civil administration.

The future held countless possibilities. Perhaps there was one scenario where Youyan would survive the struggle between Han and Liao, maintaining its semi-independence. And Zhao Siwan, relying on this organized military-political force he had built, would continuously strengthen his power—eventually even able to break free from the soil of the Yan King's faction and become a new military-political group, taking root in the land of Youyan.

Give him a protagonist's script—in the next few decades or century, whether Han and Liao crippled each other or both declined in national strength, Zhao Siwan's descendants would seize the opportunity to rise and accomplish great deeds...

Of course, for the present moment, from Zhao Siwan's words, what Zhao Kuangzan sensed was a thick, palpable ambition. Perhaps Zhao Siwan himself hadn't realized it, nor did he possess particularly far-reaching vision, but strengthening the power in his own hands and protecting his authority and property—this was almost an instinctive reaction and approach.

But as a king who had governed the great power of Youyan for many years, regardless of anything else, Zhao Kuangzan possessed the attributes of a "ruler," along with the schemes and suspicions that came with being one.

Silently pondering, Zhao Kuangzan suddenly understood—he could no longer treat Zhao Siwan as he had before, merely as a man of brute courage. Something called "suspicion" slowly began to occupy Zhao Kuangzan's heart. Zhao Siwan claimed to understand his mind deeply and repeatedly pledged his loyalty.

But that "grand plan for Youyan" of his, laying out the future so clearly and completely—for Zhao Kuangzan, even though he had always been broad-minded and magnanimous, it still felt like an affront.

Regardless of anything, the Yan King was he, Zhao Kuangzan. How the future would be chosen, where Youyan would go—that was for Zhao Kuangzan to decide, not for a mere Zhao Siwan. Clearly, Zhao Siwan did not understand this principle.

Thinking it over seriously, a slight smile appeared on Zhao Kuangzan's lips as he asked: "General Zhao, I'm curious. With your valor, even if you submitted to the court, you could still serve as a general, retain wealth and honor, and in the future earn some military merits and gain rank and title—surely that wouldn't be difficult.

But why do you repeatedly urge me to preserve our strength, even to the point of defying the court?"

Hearing Zhao Kuangzan's question, Zhao Siwan assumed a contemplative expression, the scar on his face seeming to lose some of its ferocity. After a moment, he said: "Your Highness's father and you yourself have shown me great kindness in recognizing my talents—I naturally owe you my loyalty. Additionally, forgive my bluntness: under Your Highness's command, I am the foremost battle general, renowned and distinguished. If I were to submit to the court, not only would I be constrained by others in the future, but what place would there be for men like me in the Han army?"

"Your words are quite honest!" Zhao Kuangzan said, exchanging a glance with him.

Zhao Siwan said: "Your Highness treats me like a brother, so I naturally speak from the heart!"

"When we reach Waqiao Pass, there will be many eyes and ears—mind your tongue and your actions. What was said today must remain secret!" His gaze growing deep, Zhao Kuangzan cautioned.

"I understand!" Zhao Siwan clasped his hands in salute.

After traveling a bit further, Zhao Siwan took the initiative to remind him again: "Your Highness, don't blame me for speaking out of turn. This time you have come south under the Han Emperor's edict, deep into the Juma River's southern bank, with only these thousand riders for protection. If the Han Emperor suddenly harbors ill intent and detains Your Highness, then the Yan army's power would likely collapse like a crumbling wall, easily seized by the court..."

His gaze sharpening slightly, Zhao Siwan's words clearly gave Zhao Kuangzan pause. After a moment of silence, Zhao Kuangzan said with a bitter smile: "I have already come this far; speaking of it now serves no purpose. I came with complete sincerity, owing nothing to the sovereign, owing nothing to the court. If the Son of Heaven has designs against me, then so be it—let it be fate!"

"If there are ropes and shackles waiting for us at Waqiao Pass, would General Zhao still dare to go with me?" Zhao Kuangzan asked Zhao Siwan again.

Zhao Siwan hesitated briefly, then affirmed: "Why wouldn't I dare? If anything is amiss, I will lead my men and fight desperately to break out, escorting Your Highness back to Youzhou. This paltry Juma River—how could it stop me?"

"The General's bold spirit is admirable! However, there's no need for excessive worry. I've heard that all the Han army's northern border commanders, from the Commander-in-Chief on down, are gathered at Waqiao Pass to pay homage, with all five Army Commanders present. If there were any treachery, they wouldn't have arranged it this way..."

"Let us hope so!"

On the Juma River stretch from Shun'an Army to Xin'an Army, there was another crossing called Baigou. And north of Waqiao Pass, facing the confluence of the Liuli River from afar, a newly established, tightly guarded military post had been set up, named Baigou Station.

When Zhao Kuangzan's party passed by Baigou Station, they happened upon An Shouzhong, who had been waiting for some time, along with that gleaming yellow six-horse imperial carriage.