Chapter 796: The Han Army Marches on Shu

The sun was setting behind the western mountains, and the revelry in the Crystal Hall had temporarily come to an end, the decadent music falling silent for a time. The palaces inlaid with pearls and agates emitted a dazzling radiance under the glow of lamps and candles, brilliant and eye-catching.

The ladies of beauty dispersed, and palace eunuchs and maids carefully cleaned up the mess. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol—not the fragrant essence of grain, but something rotten and foul. Within the beaded curtains and brocade drapes, on a carved jade couch, the exhausted Meng Chang lay sprawled in a wanton posture, still clutching an exquisitely crafted silver wine flagon in his arms.

"My lady!" A soft voice of greeting came from outside.

"Where is His Majesty?" A gentle, melodious inquiry sounded. From that pleasing voice, one could sense a hint of displeasure from the Lady of Beauty.

"His Majesty has already gone to sleep!"

Soon, the beaded curtain was pushed aside with a clatter, and Consort Xu stepped lightly on the fine carpet, her rounded jade-like buttocks slightly raised as she sat on the edge of the couch, gazing at Meng Chang.

Meng Chang's head was tilted slightly, a deep flush spreading across his cheeks, his drunkenness slow to fade. Though somewhat overweight, Meng Chang was still a handsome middle-aged man—his brow, eyes, nose, all could be described as handsome. Yet from his expression, one could clearly sense a kind of weariness and exhaustion.

Sensing something in her heart, Consort Xu's tightly knit brows relaxed somewhat, and her beautiful face revealed a look of tender affection—an expression of heartache. She extended her slender jade-like hand, gently stroking Meng Chang's face, her red lips parting slightly as she let out a silent sigh.

She wiped away the droplets of wine lingering in Meng Chang's trimmed beard, then noticed the flagon he held in his arms. With some effort, she retrieved it. The moment the flagon was tossed aside, Meng Chang immediately woke, opening his hazy eyes. After a moment to collect himself, he noticed Consort Xu and said softly, "You've come!"

A foul breath of wine escaped his mouth as Meng Chang made a show of having a headache. Consort Xu quickly moved forward, drew him into her embrace, and gently massaged his temples with her hand.

Meng Chang wore an expression of enjoyment, and inhaling the jade-like fragrance of his beautiful lady, he looked utterly entranced, as if immersed in a comfortable harbor.

While massaging him, Consort Xu hesitated slightly before admonishing, "Your Majesty, you cannot continue like this—living in a drunken stupor, wasting away the days, neglecting state affairs..."

Had any other palace woman or consort admonished him, Meng Chang would have flown into a rage, but this was his most beloved Consort Hui. His gaze cleared for a moment, then dimmed again. Wrapping his arms around the beauty's slender waist, he said listlessly, "The affairs of the court are for the ministers to handle. Do not worry yourself. We need only remain in this Crystal Palace, playing music in harmony and sharing leisurely pleasures!"

Every word and expression of Meng Chang's carried a hint of dejection. Seeing this, Consort Xu could not help but feel her spirits sink, and she said, "The nation's fortunes are wavering, the state is in turmoil. Though I am but a woman, how could I find peace in such pleasures, seducing my sovereign..."

"Pay no heed to the rumors outside!" Hearing this, Meng Chang soothed her.

Consort Xu was about to admonish him further when a palace eunuch hurried in and, standing outside the curtain, reported: "Your Majesty, Commissioner of Military Affairs Wang Zhaoyuan and Deputy Commissioner Han Bao request an audience outside the hall!"

"Did they say what it's about?" Meng Chang asked casually, reluctant to part from Consort Xu's jade-like form.

"They say there is urgent military intelligence!"

"Military intelligence? The two of them can discuss and handle it themselves!" Meng Chang dismissed.

Seeing his reaction, Consort Xu took the initiative to rise, offering a graceful bow, and said, "For both commissioners to come together, there must be urgent matters. Your Majesty must not delay. I shall take my leave!"

With that, before Meng Chang could detain her, she departed quickly, leaving the Crystal Palace entirely and returning to her Peony Pavilion.

In the hall, Meng Chang tidied his appearance before receiving the two commissioners of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Wang Zhaoyuan hurried in, paid his respects, and, disregarding the displeasure on Meng Chang's face, spoke directly: "Your Majesty, urgent military intelligence has arrived from the north!"

"Urgent military intelligence? Could it be that something has gone wrong on Zhao Jiwen's side again?" Meng Chang, clearly not yet fully sober from his wine, his mind still muddled, said reflexively.

But he quickly came to his senses, his eyes widening as he stared tensely at Wang Zhaoyuan: "Military intelligence from the north! Has the Han army made a move?"

Taking a deep breath, Wang Zhaoyuan said gravely, "Lizhou reports that the Northern Han dispatched troops southward on the seventh of this month. A vanguard of several thousand soldiers, led by the Han general Wang Renshan, launched a surprise attack on Sanquan!"

"How can this be!" Hearing this, Meng Chang's face darkened, as if struck a heavy blow, still bewildered: "Could the intelligence be mistaken? How could the Northern Han disregard the dignity of a great state, wage war without declaration, and resort to sneak attacks? The tribute payments of the first half of the year were delivered without any delay or deduction—how dare the Northern Han tear up the peace treaty and invade so brazenly?"

Seeing Meng Chang's reaction, Wang Zhaoyuan spoke loudly, as if trying to shake his soul back with volume: "Your Majesty, I have long said that the Northern Han's desire to destroy us has never died—sooner or later they would send troops to swallow up our great Shu's rivers and mountains. The Han army marching south is hardly surprising. Now that the Han forces have already set out, further talk is useless. The court must quickly devise a response and support the northern armies in resisting the enemy!"

Hearing Wang Zhaoyuan's words, Meng Chang gradually calmed down, but still appeared at a loss, murmuring, "So it has finally come..."

"Your Majesty!" Beside Wang Zhaoyuan, Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs Han Baozheng suddenly bellowed, his tiger-like eyes blazing, beard and hair bristling: "The northern bandits invade the south, and great Shu stands in imminent peril! Why do you make such a useless display instead of rallying the troops to resist the enemy?"

Han Baozheng was an old general of Shu, having followed Meng Zhixiang in founding the state in his early years. He had always been known for his bravery in battle and tough style, and was also outspoken and forthright. After the peace between Han and Shu, he had been appointed Deputy Commissioner of Military Affairs to assist Wang Zhaoyuan. The defensive line the Later Shu had established in the north owed much to his efforts—after all, the old general had rich combat experience...

In truth, the Later Shu's generals were suffering a severe generational gap. More than twenty years after the founding of the state, those still active in military affairs, leading troops into battle, and guarding the passes and borders were still the old generals from the founding era. No promising young talents had been discovered or promoted.

At this moment, seeing the old general Han Baozheng glaring with furious eyes, Meng Chang's flagging spirits recovered somewhat. He rose, straightened his robes, and said, "Summon all civil and military officials—we shall hold court to discuss matters!"

Though it was only early autumn, the wind blowing through the Shu palace felt exceptionally cold and bleak, unconsciously weighing down one's spirits. Meng Chang had not held court to discuss affairs for a long time, but now that he appeared before his ministers again, it was to face the Han army's massive southward advance.

For many Shu ministers, this had in fact been anticipated, but when the day truly arrived, they still could not help but panic and flounder. Several dozen civil and military officials of the Shu court gathered to discuss matters of state, yet each held their own opinion, and the debate raged endlessly.

Opinions on the Han army's invasion were highly varied. Some suggested sending envoys to inquire about peace negotiations, some suggested holding firm at the passes and waiting for the enemy to retreat on their own, some suggested reinforcing troops and dispatching supplies for an active strike—and of course, there were those of the surrender faction who suggested Meng Chang simply submit directly...

The clamor of opinions continued, yet they could not produce a single practical and effective measure. It was utter chaos—more disorderly than the markets of Chengdu. All the various suggestions made Meng Chang's head throb.

The disgraceful performance of the Shu court's ministers was more than loyal old generals like Han Baozheng could stomach. He directly rebuked them for panicking like rats, calling them contemptible. This in turn sparked another round of disputes and recriminations.

In the end, it was Meng Chang who could not take it anymore. He declared the court adjourned, keeping only Li Hao, Wang Zhaoyuan, Han Baozheng, and a few other civil and military officials behind.

Returning to his study, Meng Chang could not help but fly into a rage, launching a sweeping attack: "The entire court is filled with mediocrities! They prattle on with lofty talk in peacetime, yet at the moment of national crisis, they have not a single useful insight—utterly detestable!"

"Your Majesty, calm your anger!" Seeing Meng Chang enraged, Chancellor Li Hao lowered his head slightly and offered words of appeasement.

Having vented somewhat and feeling a bit better, Meng Chang looked at Wang Zhaoyuan and Han Baozheng and said directly, "Since things have come to this, how to deal with the Northern Han's southern invasion rests on you gentlemen. Does the Bureau of Military Affairs have a plan?"

In response, Wang Zhaoyuan answered seriously, "Your Majesty, I have deliberated with my colleagues. In this war, our court has no retreat. These past three years, the Han army has been drilling troops and building up military strength in Qinfeng and Hanzhong, stockpiling grain and amassing equipment—their intentions are clear for all to see. This southern advance surely harbors the intent to destroy our state. If we wish to preserve the foundation of great Shu, we have no choice but to resist with all our might!"