Chapter 83: The Irascible Yelu Deguang

The next day, while resting and regrouping at Fuyang, Liu Chengyou summoned the commanders of the Longqi Army and organized a military council to address the proposals put forward by Guo Rong and Xiang Xun. Though no highly persuasive rationale was given, a clear direction of advance was expressed, which at least unified their understanding.

On Yelu Deguang's side, the pace of advance was as slow as ever, though after passing Anyang, the delays and harassment along the way diminished considerably. A single great massacre carried plenty of deterrent force, but once word of it spread, it thoroughly ignited the resistance of the southern people and soldiers in the remaining prefectures and counties, and the tide of opposition to the Liao surged ever more fiercely.

Had Liu Chengyou heeded the advice of Guo Rong and Xiang Xun and wheeled his army around, he would have discovered that carrying out the cause of opposing the Liao in Hebei at this time would have gone far more smoothly.

After the defeat at Fuyang, Yelu Jieli retreated north to Handan, gathered the routed troops, and directly led the defeated soldiers in a panicked flight northward to catch up with Yelu Deguang's main army. The battle at Fuyang shattered Yelu Jieli's confidence; the fighting power of the Longqi Army left him aghast, and he felt he could no longer withstand Liu Chengyou.

By the time Yelu Jieli led his men to catch up with the main column, Yelu Deguang's side had already passed Ci Prefecture, traversed Ming and Xing Prefectures, and only just entered Zhao Prefecture's borders, halting at Zhaoqing County on the Zhao-Xing frontier.

Zhaoqing was no more than two hundred li from Fuyang, and counting from Anyang, they had averaged barely over twenty li per day. With so many men of such mixed quality, morale flagging, travel difficult, and the burden of carts large and small, the pace of advance could well be imagined.

Over a hundred thousand men sprawled in scattered encampments around the county town, and this time not even many camp stockades were erected — after all, they'd have to tear them down again come tomorrow and continue on the road. The closer they drew to the north, the more casual the Liao camp's demeanor became.

The atmosphere throughout the camp was deeply oppressive. Not only the Jin surrendered soldiers, the Yan troops, and the surrendered officials, but even the barbarian soldiers and foreign generals alike — every man looked listless and downcast, their spirits bitter and withered.

Inside the imperial tent, Yelu Deguang was in a towering rage, pacing back and forth with hurried steps, venting his fury at the civil and military officials below: "At this dawdling pace, when will I ever return to Shangjing! Cough, cough..."

At the height of his agitation, Yelu Deguang could not help breaking into several violent coughing fits. His condition was plainly not good — face flushed, breath short, restless and burning with irritation.

Facing the furious Yelu Deguang, the civil and military officials in the imperial tent dared not utter a word. Lately Yelu Deguang had been far too irascible; at the slightest displeasure, he would mete out heavy punishment or even kill.

Seeing him cough heavily, the Yongkang King Yelu Ruan hastily stepped forward to express concern: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger and take care of your health. Your servant has already issued orders strictly commanding all armies and units to hasten their pace of advance. We have already reached Zhao Prefecture; the Central Capital lies due north. Your Majesty need not be overly anxious..."

"My health is perfectly fine!" This time, Yelu Deguang directly shook off Yelu Ruan's supporting hand, shoved him away, and rebuked him bluntly: "Wuyu, you've been quite eager lately! Since when were you able to issue orders in my place?"

Yelu Deguang's reddened eyes were full of sinister malice. Hearing such heart-piercing words, Yelu Ruan was startled, dropped straight to his knees, and answered trembling: "Your servant would never dare!"

Cold sweat, unbidden, seeped from Yelu Ruan's forehead.

Yelu Ruan was the eldest son of Yelu Bei, the Dongdan King and elder brother of Yelu Deguang. Back then, Yelu Bei had been a formidable contender for the Khitan throne, and the two had once fought a struggle for succession. It was only with the support of Empress Dowager Shulu Ping that Yelu Deguang had ultimately laughed last.

During Yelu Deguang's reign, Yelu Bei was subjected to all manner of targeting and marginalization. Forced to flee south to the Later Tang, he died a stranger's death in Luoyang amid the upheaval of the Tang-Jin transition.

By all rights, as Yelu Bei's son, Yelu Ruan ought to have been steeped in suspicion under Yelu Deguang. But the truth was strangely otherwise — Yelu Deguang was exceedingly fond of this nephew who might threaten his own power, treating him like a son and relying on him heavily. On the southern campaign to destroy the Jin, he kept him at his side, entrusting him with weighty responsibilities while also giving him command of troops.

But now, from Yelu Deguang's words, it was clear that suspicion was hardly absent.

Yelu Deguang stared coldly at this stalwart, imposing nephew he so cherished, his gaze icy, his rapid panting showing no sign of easing.

Just as the tense air grew so stifling it was hard to breathe, a guard commander entered to report: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Yelu Jieli has returned with his troops and is outside the tent requesting an audience!"

Finally something diverted Yelu Deguang's attention, and the atmosphere relaxed somewhat. Yelu Deguang turned his head, furrowed his brows, and demanded: "Yelu Jieli? Wasn't he ordered to remain at Ci Prefecture to cover the rear? Without my command, how dare he return?"

Soon, Yelu Jieli entered, nervously confessing his guilt and recounting the events of the battle at Fuyang in full.

"What a fine son of the Liu family!" Immediately followed Yelu Deguang's wrathful rebuke: "What a fine waste! Over ten thousand cavalry and infantry, and you still suffered a crushing defeat — and you still have the face to return on your own authority?"

Facing the enraged Yelu Deguang, Yelu Jieli dared not argue, only begging for forgiveness.

"Guards, drag him out and behead him, to uphold military law!" Perhaps truly beside himself with rage, Yelu Deguang stumbled back two steps, plopped down onto his folding couch, and then issued the order with a touch of hysteria.

At this command, even on this summer night, the tent suddenly turned several degrees colder, and the assembled ministers fell silent. Yelu Jieli raised his head, staring in shock at the Liao emperor. He had anticipated some punishment for returning in defeat, but never expected Yelu Deguang to want his life.

The others hadn't reacted yet, but the tent guards moved swiftly, entering directly to seize Yelu Jieli and drag him out for execution. Yelu Jieli hastily struggled and shouted for mercy.

Yelu Jieli was, after all, a senior minister and a great general, not just anyone — there were still Liao officials who spoke up for him.

"What use is keeping such a defeated general!" But Yelu Deguang plainly would not listen, eyes red, killing intent undiminished: "Last time, when warhorses were stolen by surrendered soldiers (the Luo Yangui affair) and presented to Hedong, I already let him off. This time, both crimes are punished together. Drag him out!"

Glancing at Yelu Deguang, Yelu Ruan, who had been kneeling to one side all along, gritted his teeth, drew a deep breath, and could not help speaking up after all: "Your Majesty, there is no general who never loses a battle. General Jieli bears guilt, but in the end it does not warrant death. Since the southern campaign began, he has made many contributions. In view of his past merits, I beg Your Majesty to mete out a lighter punishment..."

When Yelu Ruan finished speaking, Yelu Deguang turned to gaze at him, but his emotions seemed to have steadied: "Wuyu, you remain this magnanimous!"

As if casting aside the earlier suspicion, though his tone was slightly inscrutable. Turning his gaze back to Yelu Jieli, Yelu Deguang asked: "That Liu boy — where is he now? What is the situation at Ci Prefecture?"

"Your servant... your servant does not know!" Seeing that the Liao emperor's attitude seemed to have shifted, Yelu Jieli breathed a small sigh of relief, but at the question, he felt somewhat ashamed himself.

"Worthless!" Cursing once, he made a sour face, cast a disgusted look at Yelu Jieli, and waved his hand: "Strip him of all offices and ranks — let him go tend horses!"

Stripped of everything, Yelu Jieli still had to thank him for his grace with tears of gratitude — at least he had kept his life.

"Send men south at once to investigate the situation of that Hedong army under the Liu boy!" Heaving a heavy sigh, but unable to suppress the fury within, Yelu Deguang's tone was extremely severe.

"Convey my order: tomorrow, continue at greater speed. Those who cannot keep up — kill them!" Then he issued another cold military command.

The Khitan civil and military officials in the tent all wore tightly drawn expressions, heads bowed with extreme caution. Of late, Yelu Deguang had grown ever more capricious and fearsome.