Chapter 836: Mutual Congratulations on Shared Good Fortune

Li Hongji's words made Lin Renzhao suddenly alert, his tiger-like eyes brightening, before a solemn expression appeared on his face: "This is indeed a good plan, but..."

"I treat you as a general who knows my heart, there is no need for hesitation—speak your mind freely!" In response to his reaction, Li Hongji waved a hand lightly, the expression on his handsome face appearing quite sincere.

Hearing this, Lin Renzhao spoke directly: "The Han and Liao have maintained peace for years without major conflict—would they rashly attack south? And would the court agree?"

Li Hongji smiled instead, his bearing calm and confident: "Since Abaoji founded the Khitan state, they have dominated the north, and over the decades have invaded south time and again—not a single sovereign has ever sheathed his sword. When their power was at its height, the Shi Jin acknowledged them as father, ceded territory, and paid tribute, all to beg for mere survival.

Now the Northern Han has risen in the Central Plains. Toward the Khitan, they neither submit as vassals nor pay tribute—between two tigers, how can they coexist? In recent years, the Han sovereign has greatly expanded his military preparations, striking out on all fronts, his ambition to swallow the four seas plain for all to see. Now only the half of Jiangnan remains unconquered. Once he annexes the south, he will surely march north to contend for Yanyun.

If the Liao sovereign has any foresight, he should recognize this threat and be on his guard. Moreover, Liao is not lacking in capable men. I have already sent eloquent and discerning envoys north to reach a consensus with them—that should not be difficult!

As for the court—the state is already as precarious as a pile of eggs. If we can spur the Khitan army to march south, and the two powers clash in the north, that gives our dynasty a chance to catch its breath. I imagine no one would be unwilling..."

Listening to Li Hongji's words, Lin Renzhao subconsciously nodded, but a stray thought crept into his mind. Even if the Khitan truly did march south in force, would Jinling dare to take the initiative to strike?

Turning his head suddenly, looking at Li Hongji who was staring fixedly northward, Lin Renzhao felt a measure of comfort in his heart. Perhaps, with the Crown Prince's push, they could yet win a thread of hope.

While Li Hongji and Lin Renzhao were deep in discussion over their "pincer from north and south" strategy, several ships sailed slowly from the north bank of the river—light skiffs and swift boats, their pitch-black Han banners strikingly conspicuous even under the winter sun.

The Runzhou naval drills were quickly interrupted. Sensing this, Li Hongji and Lin Renzhao exchanged a glance, a shadow of gloom surfacing in both their eyes. Descending from the observation pavilion, they waited a moment before a naval junior officer hurried over to report—only to find the two already standing there, having waited for some time.

"Speak! What business do the Han ships have coming south?" Lin Renzhao asked first.

The junior officer clasped his hands and replied: "It is the Han army's naval force from Yangzhou. They sent men to inspect our drills and demand an explanation from us!"

"An explanation? Does the Great Tang army need to explain its drills to the Han army?" Li Hongji flew into a rage on the spot, pointing angrily: "Go! Drive those Han ships from the south back—tell them to sail back to the north bank!"

No matter how he tried to restrain himself, Li Hongji's fierce and hot-tempered nature was ultimately hard to change. Seeing this, it was Lin Renzhao who offered a word of restraint, instructing: "Reply to the Han envoys that our army is merely conducting routine training, with no other intent. Tell them that if they do not mind, this general will prepare food and drink in the camp for their enjoyment!"

"Yes!"

After the junior officer withdrew, Li Hongji exploded completely. Looking at Lin Renzhao, he said with grief and indignation: "Humiliation for the state, humiliation for the army! I knew the Han army was arrogant, but do they normally bully their way to our very doorstep like this?"

Lin Renzhao sighed and replied: "Your Highness, calm your anger! When swords have not yet been drawn, endure what can be endured. If our temporary forbearance swells their arrogance and lulls their vigilance, that may not be a bad thing. As for our army, we can bide our time, and knowing shame, grow brave!"

Knowing Lin Renzhao to be a man of hot blood, Li Hongji still felt a pang of melancholy at his words, yet he could also understand: "The soldiers have been wronged!"

"Your Highness, let today's drills end here," Lin Renzhao said.

"Go! Prepare a banquet! If the Han envoys dare set foot ashore and enter the camp, I would like to see just how rampant they can be!" Li Hongji waved his hand and gave the order.

"Yes!"

Soon, two Han army officers from the Yangzhou naval force, flattered by the Tang army's fawning, strode arrogantly into camp. With Lin Renzhao personally accompanying them, they ate and drank their fill, accepted some bribes, and then sailed back north, thoroughly satisfied, to report their mission...

That night, the Southern Tang Crown Prince Li Hongji had already returned to Dantu city. No sooner had he arrived at his lodgings than a trusted subordinate came hurrying to see him. The moment he saw this man, Li Hongji's expression immediately tensed. He dismissed his attendants and led the man inside for a private talk.

"How did it go?" Li Hongji stared at the newcomer.

The newcomer's expression was also quite grave. Deliberately lowering his voice, he reported: "Your Highness, Hongzhou has already been taken care of!"

Drawing in a sharp breath involuntarily, Li Hongji's expression suddenly turned complex: "It was truly done?"

The newcomer nodded: "The news should reach Jinling soon!"

His hands trembling involuntarily, Li Hongji appeared deeply unsettled, his eyes reddening slightly. He paced about the room for a while, then suddenly asked: "Was anything left behind that could trace back to us?"

Seeing Li Hongji's reaction, the newcomer was taken aback. He muttered inwardly—when the decision was made, the Crown Prince had not looked like this. Back then he had been iron-hearted, without a moment's hesitation. Now that it had succeeded, he wore such a hesitant expression instead.

"Rest assured, Your Highness. The man we used was a death-row prisoner who had been sentenced by the Duke of Jin—he has already been silenced!"

Hearing this, Li Hongji was somewhat reassured. He waved his hand listlessly, his voice low: "I understand. You may withdraw."

"Yes!"

After his subordinate withdrew, Li Hongji suddenly collapsed to the floor, leaning against the writing desk, his face twisted with emotion, as if mirroring his turbulent thoughts. After a long while, he murmured with a trace of regret: "Third Uncle, do not blame your nephew..."

Indeed, Li Hongji had ultimately walked history's "old path," sending men to kill his imperial uncle Li Jingsui. His choice to tour Runzhou had also carried the intention of avoiding the storm.

In recent years, the political winds in Jinling had been extremely unfavorable to him as Crown Prince. Before he became Crown Prince, this martial, accomplished prince had still won a measure of popular support because of the state's circumstances.

But after being installed as Crown Prince, the flaws in his character were magnified without limit. He was harsh, suspicious, clumsy in political maneuvering, favoring martial affairs over civil, unable to maintain good relations with ministers and colleagues, incapable of harmonizing those above and below. As a result, more and more people began to long for the gentle, honest Imperial Younger Brother (Heir) Li Jingsui.

Throughout the entire Jinling court, the only one who steadfastly supported Li Hongji was the two-dynasty veteran minister Xiao Yan. As for Han Xizai, he was merely a political ally in opposing the Jiangnan literati who favored appeasement and surrender.

And Li Hongji, naturally, would not look for problems in himself. Feeling his position unstable and his ambitions thwarted, he gradually shifted the blame onto his imperial uncle Li Jingsui, treating him as a threat.

In truth, Li Hongji's choice to kill his uncle was stupider than stupid. First, Li Jingsui had never harbored such intentions—he had withdrawn to protect himself, his aspirations already made clear, entirely aboveboard. Second, bearing the infamy of killing one's uncle—especially killing an uncle with such an excellent reputation—how could he continue to exist in the world, how could he preserve his status as heir?

No matter how high one's ambitions, in the end they cannot overcome the word "self-destruction."

In December, Jinling was exceptionally cold, yet as a great metropolis of several hundred thousand people, it always maintained a certain vitality. Although in recent years the life of Jinling's scholars and commoners had not been as good as in earlier days, the approaching new year had lifted the atmosphere considerably—no matter how hard life was, it did not stop people from celebrating festivals.

In the Tang palace, chiwen ornaments still adorned the ridgepoles of the various halls, maintaining the "imperial" dignity. Of course, this dignity was merely self-hypnosis, self-amusement. In recent years, whenever Han envoys came south, Li Jing would order them all dismantled and hide every object in the palace that exceeded proper regulations, lest the Han court seize upon them as grounds for accusation.

Inside the Gui* Hall, the warm chamber was fragrant, the atmosphere congenial, cheers unceasing—the Tang sovereign Li Jing had, amid the banquet, composed another proud poem, drawing lavish flattery from the attendant literary officials and Ladies of Beauty.

The banquet was in full swing when a palace eunuch reported that Chancellor Han Xizai sought an audience. Li Jing immediately ordered him summoned.

Soon, Han Xizai stepped into the hall. Surveying the extravagant scene within, glancing at Feng Yansi trading toasts with others, then looking at the smiling Li Jing, he sighed inwardly and stepped forward to pay his respects.

"Minister Han has come!" Li Jing was in high spirits. Seeing Han Xizai, he immediately said: "Quickly, take a seat! Today we have distinguished guests aplenty and many fine works—you must share in the appreciation and drink with me!"

Looking at the beautiful palace maid who offered him a cup of wine with a charming smile, Han Xizai gently declined, clasping his hands and replying: "Your Majesty, I shall not drink for now. I have come because there is a grave military matter to report!"

Seeing Han Xizai's reaction, Li Jing's spirits dampened somewhat, and he grew a bit more serious: "What is it? Speak, Minister!"

Han Xizai: "Your Majesty, word has come from Chuanshu—Shu is in great turmoil. After the Han army entered Shu, they extorted and plundered the subjects of the Meng Shu, fabricating crimes and seizing people's property, until the powerful families of Shu rose in rebellion one after another. By the eleventh month, rebels against the Han army had reached fifteen prefectures, with rebel forces exceeding a hundred thousand!"

Because of the Han army's blockade, news of the Shu rebellion had not reached the Southern Tang until this December, when the rebellion was already in its final stages.

Hearing this, Li Jing's spirits rose again. His eyes widening, he asked: "Truly?"

Han Xizai nodded: "This news was transmitted only with great effort by our state's spies! Now the rebellion in Shu is at its height, and the Han army is suppressing it with equal urgency!"

Li Jing could not help but laugh—a loud, unrestrained laugh of schadenfreude.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! If Chuanshu is in chaos, the Northern Han will surely lack the strength to look eastward—our dynasty can rest easy!" Feng Yansi rose, smiling obsequiously.

"The successive rebellions in Chuanshu show how the Han army has lost the people's hearts. Conquest by force will surely be met with force!" someone echoed.

"Ministers, let us raise our cups together and toast the righteous uprising of the Shu people! Cheers!" Li Jing's spirits soared.

The behavior of the sovereign and his ministers left Han Xizai feeling helpless. Standing in the hall, his eyes flashing with the light of one angered by their refusal to see the truth, his bitter expression stood in stark contrast to the festive atmosphere.

"Having received such glad tidings, why does Minister Han wear such a face?" Li Jing noticed and asked.

"Your Majesty, though Chuanshu is in turmoil, they are ultimately a motley mob. Given the Northern Han's strength, barring unforeseen circumstances, they will sooner or later be pacified. Once Chuanshu is settled, the Han army's spearhead will point at our dynasty—we will bear the brunt! Therefore, I do not consider this cause for joy!" Han Xizai said in a low voice.

Listening to his words, Li Jing felt a sense of being spoiled. In recent years, Han Xizai always spoiled his mood. Although he knew some of the words and remonstrances were correct, he simply did not want to hear them—they only irritated him.

His face darkening, Li Jing asked, "In Han Qing's view, what should I do? With the Northern Han being so powerful, what can our court possibly do?"

"Raise an army to campaign north?" Li Jing's tone carried a hint of mockery.

Facing Li Jing's question, Han Xizai fell silent. The Southern Tang's current situation was a dead end, unless chaos broke out again in the north.