Chapter 851: The Deliberation on Conquering the Tang

"Your Majesty intends to send troops against Dali?" Li Gu looked up at Liu Chengyou, his expression composed, but seemingly unconvinced.

Liu Chengyou replied: "Expanding our borders and territories, an achievement without parallel in this age—perhaps it can be anticipated! That our generals and commanders harbor ambitions of advancement brings me much comfort! What does Minister Li think?"

Upon hearing the question, Li Gu deliberated briefly, then slowly responded: "In the past, when we campaigned against Huainan, Your Majesty drilled the land and naval forces, forged fine weapons, and stockpiled three years of grain before dispatching the army. The taking of Jinghu likewise involved years of preparation, with two hundred thousand dan of grain amassed. As for the great army pacifying Chuanshu, though it took only half a year, the struggle between Shu and Han spanned ten years of autumns, with spies planted early, and over a hundred thousand men mobilized in total..."

"It seems Minister Li holds a dissenting view?" Liu Chengyou smiled.

Li Gu clasped his hands: "Sunzi said, 'He who makes many calculations in his temple before the battle will win; he who makes few calculations will not.' If we now hastily raise an army based solely on a general's words, that would be rash and ill-considered—not worth doing!

Moreover, 'ignorant of the enemy but knowing oneself—one victory, one defeat.' In the southwestern regions, the mountains are high and the forests dense, the roads are impassable, and the barbarian conditions are complex. To launch troops rashly, I fear we would gain no benefit but instead reap harm.

Chuanshu has only recently been taken; for the southwestern prefectures, nurturing the people and restoring governance should take priority—not large-scale action. With the enemy's situation unclear and our rear unsettled, it truly is not the time for great military endeavors.

Dali is the former territory of Nanzhao, established as a state for twenty years. To mobilize the multitudes against it, marching a weary army on a distant campaign, the prospects are uncertain. The affairs of the Tianbao era are not far behind us as a warning—I beg Your Majesty to think thrice!"

What Li Gu said was all mature counsel for the state, speaking his mind directly, with no intention of pandering to Liu Chengyou's wishes. Of course, he also knew that although the Emperor's appetite for achievement was vigorous, he had not yet reached the point of loving grandiose undertakings; he could distinguish benefit from harm and was willing to heed others' words, hence Li Gu dared to speak his heart frankly.

Of course, Liu Chengyou had always held Li Gu's character and abilities in high esteem, and had always spoken to him in gentle, soft tones. As he listened to his opinions, his face carried a warm smile throughout, and he nodded to show respect and approval.

He then looked toward Guo Rong: "What does Your Excellency think?"

Guo Rong answered without hesitation, directly: "With the rich and fertile lands of the southeast unclaimed, why would Your Majesty set his heart on the cloudy ridges?"

Guo Rong's attitude was also stated plainly: "In the great situation of the realm today, the state's focus lies first and foremost in unification—there is no second direction; all other matters are secondary. Moreover, Your Majesty harbors the ambition to rescue the world and recover the old territories; beyond the northern frontier and Hexi are both places for the use of arms—why divert attention elsewhere?

After sweeping the realm clean, the strong enemy lies in the north—it is not fitting to look southward! Matters are divided by weight, and one must attend to the primary and secondary. How to weigh them—with Your Majesty's wisdom, you may take what is convenient!"

Hearing his words, Liu Chengyou showed no surprise, only gazing at Guo Rong and remarking with emotion: "The two ministers' opinions coincide without consultation—both tending to the same view. I need not seek the thoughts of others any further!"

Meeting Liu Chengyou's gaze, Guo Rong paused briefly, then continued: "Dali is remote and isolated, vast in land but sparse in people, standing on its own without paying tribute, having long been ignorant of the Central Plains' might. If Your Majesty has the ambition to take it, that is not impossible—it should merely be pursued slowly.

As Chancellor Li said, much more calculation is needed. Dali's national strength, military preparedness, tribes, cities, roads—all such matters require thorough understanding and proper preparation, especially training an army familiar with the southwestern geography and climate, skilled at swift strikes through mountain forests.

When the moment arrives, dispatching a single division would suffice to pacify and extinguish it, achieving twice the result with half the effort, without fear of other troubles!"

It was evident that Guo Rong was not particularly interested in Dali, and moreover, did not think highly of it. At the same time, his views on the Great Han's next direction of movement were also expressed very clearly.

"Regarding the campaign against Dali, I have indeed felt some stirring—this is what is meant by 'gaining Shu and then eyeing Dian'!" Liu Chengyou said with a very candid air: "However, you two ministers do make valid points. I do not fight unprepared battles, so I can only suppress Wang Quanbin's desire to render merit for now, awaiting the future!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Neither of the two was particularly surprised by the Emperor's reaction, clasping their hands in response.

After a moment's deliberation, Liu Chengyou said: "However, slow pursuit does not mean no pursuit. The matter of preparing for the campaign against Dali, I shall entrust to Wang Quanbin to make ready—what do you two think?"

"Your subject believes this is acceptable!" Li Gu nodded.

Guo Rong thought for a moment, then also said: "The old General Wang can hardly restrain his ambition for achievement now, urgently seeking to rebuild his merits and restore his reputation. If entrusted with preparations for the campaign south of Shu, he will certainly exert his utmost and dare not be negligent. With his fearsome reputation, he can also keep Shu in check, intimidate petty malefactors, and safeguard the peace and stability of Jiannan!"

"Then let Wang Quanbin be Deputy Chief Commander of the Jiannan Circuit!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand and said calmly.

"Thus we need not fear that Wang Quanbin will not give his all!" Li Gu stroked his grizzled beard and chuckled lightly.

A glint of wisdom shone in his old eyes as he said: "Previously, Shu stood as an obstacle, so since Dali's founding, it has never had communication with the Central Kingdom. Now that Chuanshu is settled, the two sides border each other, and the road is open—the Great Han ought to strengthen its ties and exchanges with it!"

"What you say is most true!" Liu Chengyou immediately understood, saying: "So it should be. This time for the National Celebration, the Duan clan also sent envoys to offer congratulations and gifts. With this exchange of courtesies, the court ought to respond in kind—the Ministry of Rites may arrange for someone to journey to the southwest, to proclaim the might of our Great Han!"

"I will give instructions to the Wude Office; as for the Military Intelligence Office, Minister Chai shall make the arrangements!" Liu Chengyou said to Guo Rong.

Guo Rong understood, clasping his hands: "As commanded!"

The matter of Dali was temporarily set aside. Looking at Li and Chai, he asked in a deep voice: "What do the two ministers think—is now the time to pacify the Tang?"

From the Emperor's solemn and grave expression, one could tell that this was the true purpose for summoning the two of them. Compared to Dali's barren mountains and harsh waters, it was clearly the Jiangnan region—rich in the state and dense in population—that moved him more.

In response to the Son of Heaven's question, the two were clearly more cautious, giving it greater thought. This time it was Guo Rong who spoke first: "Your Majesty, your subject believes the Southern Tang is not difficult to take. Since the great battle of Huainan, the Han has grown stronger while the Tang daily weakens. When our army attacks, it shall be like a mountain crushing eggs, sweeping away all before it—beyond their ability to resist.

Jiangnan's territory is small and narrow; apart from the Yangtze shared by both states, there is almost no natural defense, and it is surrounded by enemies on all sides. According to investigations, Jiangnan still maintains over a hundred thousand troops. Those with the strength to fight are only Liu Renshan of Ezhou and Lin Renzhao of Runzhou, about thirty thousand men in total—the rest are not worth mentioning.

However, Liu Renshan is advanced in years, and our army can cut off the Yangtze at any time and destroy him in isolation. Though Lin Renzhao is brave and resourceful with ambitions of advancement, he is after all a surrendered general from the state of Min. Previously he had the support of Li Hongji and Han Xizai, and thus was given important posts. Now that Li Hongji has been deposed and Han Xizai dismissed, Lin Renzhao has also been considerably affected, with few opportunities to display his talents.

Our army is different—strong soldiers and vigorous horses. Setting aside the two headquarters of the imperial army for the moment, our naval forces have developed by leaps and bounds and can be put to great use. The waterways of Jiangnan will hardly serve as an obstacle. If the Great Han raises its army, success is certain. However, your subject suggests waiting a while longer—until Shu is thoroughly stabilized, all the aftermath matters are fully settled, and the court, the soldiers, and the people are given a chance to catch their breath—before shifting the strategic focus to the lands south of the river!"

In truth, given the Great Han court's current strength, even launching troops immediately would be feasible. The pacification of Shu primarily consumed the military and civilian resources of the southwest; in the Central Plains and the two Huai regions, the court still had sufficient reserve strength to draw upon. Though the court's financial and material resources had been considerably depleted, the spoils taken from Shu replenished them, leaving some margin.

However, before and after the pacification of Shu, along with the Shu rebellion, every aspect of the Great Han showed fatigue. Chuanshu needed to recuperate, and the aftermath matters involved Guanzhong and the entire middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze. With half the realm in need of rest, the Great Han could still conscript soldiers, civilians, and financial resources to wage a war of annihilation against a state, with a high probability of success—but doing so would leave the state utterly exhausted, and the pressure borne would be even greater.

After the destruction of Shu, unification was imminent, and the achievement that would cement one's place in history lay right before their eyes. Even with Liu Chengyou's mind as deep as the sea, he could not help but feel urgency.

Therefore, he approved of Guo Rong's words, but in his heart there was always a sense of pressing urgency, wishing to accomplish it all in one stroke.

His eyes rolling a few times, Liu Chengyou said: "By Minister Chai's view, once troops are dispatched, success will follow?"

The Emperor's attitude made Guo Rong furrow his brow slightly. He nodded, but still earnestly advised: "Your subject believes success is inevitable, but we must not be overly hasty. If we slow the pace somewhat and prepare thoroughly, we can handle it with ease!"

"What does Minister Li think?" Liu Chengyou turned to look at Li Gu again.

Having taken in the entire exchange between Liu Chengyou and his minister Guo Rong, Li Gu had evidently thought it through as well, and answered Liu Chengyou with certainty: "Your Majesty, comparing the national strengths of the two states, raising troops to attack the Tang is truly like weighing a zhu against a yi—success is certain!"