Chapter 86: Playing the Grand Archmage Once

Zhaozhou, Baixiang.

Liu Chengyou led the Longqi Army another thirty-plus li north, leaving them less than eighty li from Luancheng—a journey that could be covered between dawn and dusk. The closer they drew to the main Khitan force, the more cautious every step became.

As commander, Liu Chengyou had naturally been on edge lately, especially since learning that Yelu Deguang's main army had reached Luancheng. The weight of a thousand jun rested on his shoulders, and the pressure was immense.

While awaiting word on the Liao army, Liu Chengyou had Xiang Xun lead a squad of personal guards to accompany him on a stroll around the area, to ease the anxiety in his heart.

Yet a turn around the area yielded nothing of note. In this age, mention Baixiang, and anyone with a modicum of knowledge would recall the "Battle of Baixiang" from decades past.

The Battle of Baixiang, fought in the twilight of Emperor Taizu Zhu Wen's reign, was a pivotal turning point in the struggle between Liang and Jin for supremacy—of immense strategic significance, ending in a great victory for the Jin army.

After that battle, the Later Liang's elite forces suffered grievous losses and rapidly declined, their power contracting to south of Weibo. The Jin army, meanwhile, gained tremendous prestige, and the two garrisons of Chengde (Wang Rong) and Yiwu (Wang Chuzhi) swung fully behind Li Cunxu, creating favorable conditions for Li Cunxu's subsequent unification of Hebei and his southward campaign to destroy Liang.

Though he did not know the details of the Battle of Baixiang, Liu Chengyou had some understanding of it—at least, he knew the outcome.

Baixiang sat at the confluence of the Huai and Ji rivers. He reined in his horse and stood by the water's edge for a long while, gazing at the swift current—it was said that the Liang and Jin armies had once faced each other across these banks. Feeling the scorching heat of the sun, Liu Chengyou pointed at the surroundings and remarked with emotion: "With a single battle at Baixiang, Zhuangzong nearly determined the course of the Central Plains' history for decades. Yet in less than forty years, few traces of the battlefield remain. The seas change to mulberry fields—such is the way of all things..."

Xiang Xun, following beside him, heard Liu Chengyou's words and could not help but clear his throat, saying: "Your Highness, though the Liang and Jin armies faced each other across the Ye River, the true decisive ground was at Gaoyi County to the north."

"Oh?" Liu Chengyou showed no sign of annoyance; instead, he humbly asked Xiang Xun for the details.

Xiang Xun took some time to patiently recount the matter to Liu Chengyou, then accompanied him in viewing the river scenery. A look of hesitation slowly crept onto his face.

"Speak your mind freely!" Liu Chengyou said.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Xun clasped his hands toward Liu Chengyou, organized his words slightly, and said to him: "Another half month has passed, Your Highness. You have marched here and still made no move—too much time has been wasted. Your subordinates are deeply worried, and truly cannot fathom Your Highness's intentions..."

Liu Chengyou made no reply, merely glancing at Xiang Xun, who continued: "Forgive my bluntness, Your Highness. You have always been wise and discerning. Since receiving the order to march south and east, in battles great and small, your decisions at critical moments have been apt. Why is this time so baffling?"

As he spoke, deep worry showed on Xiang Xun's face: "At present, the Khitan army has halted at Luancheng for two days. Our army is far too close to the enemy—too dangerous!"

Liu Chengyou himself could hardly recall how many times Xiang Xun and Guo Rong had offered such remonstrance, openly and in private.

In truth, by now Liu Chengyou himself could not help but harbor some doubts, though he concealed them well. He kept a closed face, leaving others utterly unable to read his mind. In recent days, Liu Chengyou's demeanor could well be described as obstinate.

"Do you think I don't know all this?" Liu Chengyou finally spoke, drawing a calm breath, "speaking from the heart": "I intend to use this Longqi force of fewer than ten thousand to find a reliable foothold in the prefectures of Hebei, and then plan our restoration!"

"Where does Your Highness have in mind?" Xiang Xun was somewhat surprised.

"Originally, the most suitable place would be Yedu. However, Du Chongwei holds it with tens of thousands of troops—it cannot be taken easily!" Liu Chengyou's thinking seemed to grow clearer as he spoke: "After much deliberation, the only place where we can accomplish something is Zhenzhou—that old Chengde garrison! Once the Khitan withdraw, our army will follow behind and take it."

"But even if the Khitan withdraw north, they will hardly give up Zhenzhou easily. The Liao sovereign is no ordinary man; surely he will not fail to see Zhenzhou's importance!" Xiang Xun pondered briefly, then raised his doubt.

At the question, Liu Chengyou's gaze leveled ahead, and he sighed inwardly—truly hard to fool. Fortunately, a rider came galloping up, rescuing Liu Chengyou from his awkwardness.

A forward scout reported: in the Liao camp at Luancheng, wails and lamentations sounded everywhere; between the ramparts, white funeral banners and flags stood in rows, stretching for over ten li...

In the central camp, officers had gathered. After hearing the report, all exchanged bewildered looks. Zhang Yanwei asked blankly: "What has happened to the Khitan? Has some important person died?"

Liu Chengyou's eyes, however, clearly gleamed with a lively light; joy showed on his face, and his body unconsciously relaxed. Sweeping his gaze around, he gave the order crisply: "Transmit my command—the entire army withdraws south!"

At this order, the assembled generals were even more astonished.

At Luancheng, on the Liao camp side, every corner had been draped in white.

Yelu Deguang's sudden death had an enormous impact. With his passing, the entire camp instantly became a heap of loose sand, as if it had lost its direction—hearts unsettled, morale wavering. Internal undercurrents surged to the surface, and the already oppressive camp grew even more unstable.

Within a very short time, the Liao camp split into clearly defined factions—three forces. The Khitan nobles and civil-military officials loyal to Yelu Deguang, the faction of Yongkang Prince Yelu Ruan, and the Han faction led by Yan Wang Zhao Yanshou—all contending for control of the main army.

Yelu Deguang had died too suddenly—so suddenly that he had never designated a successor to take charge.

Of the three factions, the "Emperor's faction" was actually the largest and strongest, but it had no leader. Though all upheld the mission of escorting Yelu Deguang's "remains" back to the Supreme Capital, their hearts were scattered.

Yelu Ruan, however, had long been prepared, having won over some noble generals to vouch for him and support his taking command of the army. In fact, throughout the entire force, he was now the most honored, his status and position fully in place. But Yelu Ruan had already shown certain ominous "signs," which naturally aroused the antipathy of the "Emperor's faction."

As for Zhao Yanshou, he was essentially running alongside, seeking only self-preservation. Still, he trotted out the official appointments Yelu Deguang had previously granted him, somewhat overreaching in his ambition to claim the posts of Defender of the Central Capital and Grand Chancellor, and step onto the stage to take charge.

Internal strife was fierce; instability at the top naturally affected those below. Soon, the entire atmosphere of the Luancheng Liao camp descended into chaos.

Amid the disputes, someone raised a very serious question that temporarily suppressed the contradictions: how to handle the late emperor's remains. They could not simply bury him on the spot—he had to be sent back to the Supreme Capital, to give the Empress Dowager an accounting.

But summer had arrived, the weather was hot, and Luancheng was still far from the Supreme Capital. If they transported him back without any treatment, Yelu Deguang would have long since rotted away.

There is always a solution to every problem. Pooling their wits, they pickled Yelu Deguang in salt, making him into an "imperial jerky."

While all this turmoil unfolded at the Luancheng Liao camp, Liu Chengyou led the Longqi Army in a ruse—with great fanfare they withdrew south, then went silent, taking another route to secretly cross the Xiao River, and swiftly advanced north along the waterway. This route, on the eastern line, differed from the path the Liao army had taken on its northward return.

During this period, Liu Chengyou had sent men on open and covert investigations, thoroughly mapping the surrounding roads.

Having come south all the way, accepting surrenders and defections, discarding the dross and keeping the essential, the Longqi Army's total strength still numbered under eight thousand. With such meager forces, charging straight at the hundred-thousand-plus Liao army at Luancheng—Liu Chengyou intended to play the "Grand Archmage" once.