Chapter 862: The Sense of Crisis in Liao's Upper Echelons

Upon returning from the mission, the first order of business was naturally to pay respects to the Emperor, but upon arriving at the imperial tent, it was only reasonable that he could not see Yelu Jing immediately. However, he was not treated poorly either, and was personally received by Xiao Haili, the chancellor of the Northern Administration.

Xiao Haili was imposing in appearance, of excellent bearing, and came from Khitan northern-administration aristocratic stock. He was incorruptible and prudent in conduct, well-versed in governance, and judged matters with complete fairness, earning considerable public trust. He was a highly capable minister of Liao.

In his early years, he had been slightly implicated in Yelu Chage's rebellion, but as a close relative of the imperial house, there was no major problem. Combined with his talent, Yelu Jing appreciated his diligence and gravity, and later promoted him to chancellor of the Northern Administration, placing great trust in him. Xiao Haili was now only forty years old, yet he already oversaw all military and state affairs, assisting in the great governance of the realm.

In recent years, the various princes of the Liao imperial clan had vied with one another in rebellion. Compared with Xiao Husi, who merely catered to Yelu Jing and never offered remonstrance or admonition, Xiao Haili judged cases with impartiality and left no grievances unredressed. Hence his reputation had always been excellent, earning widespread praise, and even the many elder senior ministers did not look down on him for being "young."

Yelu Jing's reputation in official histories was not good—a sleeping sovereign, a benighted ruler, given to frivolity without restraint. But upon closer examination, one could find that during his reign, a great number of ministers with genuine talent for governing the state and ordering affairs had emerged in the upper echelons of Liao.

As for why his reputation was so notorious, there were indeed some chaotic measures—rewards and punishments without principle, neglect of court affairs, and an unbridled fondness for killing, especially in his later years. But more of the factors likely lay in the judgments of later generations. Yelu Xian, the Jingzong Emperor who succeeded Yelu Jing, was the son of Yelu Ruan, and the throne had returned to the line of Yelu Bei, the Prince of Dongdan. As the legitimate son of Taizong, it was not incomprehensible that Yelu Jing's shortcomings in governance and personal conduct would be magnified and blackened.

Both were heavyweights within the northern-administration system of Liao—one the chancellor of the Northern Administration, the other the Commissioner of Military Affairs of the Northern Bureau. Their power and status were not far apart, and they communicated on an equal footing.

"Is His Majesty still out hunting?" Xiao Husi asked as they were led into a side tent and seated.

"Indeed!" Xiao Haili's stern features showed a trace of helplessness as he nodded.

Hearing this, Xiao Husi was not surprised and asked directly: "Why has His Majesty suddenly thought of going south to Yunzhou to hunt? Could there be some change in affairs concerning the Han?"

Clearly, as a man of rich experience and high political sensitivity, Xiao Husi could not help but speculate—especially having just returned from his northern mission and held a secret meeting with Zhao Siwan, he could not resist adding associations. Moreover, Yelu Jing had been emperor for over seven years, and this was the first time he had so grandly traveled south and taken an interest in southern affairs.

Xiao Haili shook his head and said: "His Majesty's thoughts are not something we can guess. These years of touring and inspecting the various regions may simply be a whim, coming south to observe. After all, the prefectures, counties, and tribes of the south are also vital territories of our Great Liao!"

Saying this, Xiao Haili turned to Xiao Husi: "This time the Northern Commissioner was ordered to serve as envoy to the Han state for nearly half a year, and has only now returned. I imagine the harvest has been considerable!"

At this mention, Xiao Husi's expression could not help but turn grave. He sighed slightly and said: "The Han state has been established for no more than twelve years, yet it has already become a formidable enemy of our Great Liao. I must remonstrate with His Majesty to make preparations early. The threat from the south has grown deep—if it is not checked, it will surely endanger the Great Liao in days to come!"

Xiao Husi was ordinarily a very cautious and prudent man. Now, seeing him adopt such an attitude and directly voice his fear and concern regarding the Northern Han, Xiao Haili also grew serious.

In fact, with internal stability in Liao and national strength gradually recovering, many in the Liao upper echelons could not help but turn their gaze toward the Great Han in the south. After all, the upper ranks of Liao were not lacking in men of insight.

Through the foundations laid by three generations, Liao could no longer be simply regarded as a nomadic state. The conquest of the Youyun and Liaodong regions, the integration of Han culture, and the establishment of monarchical institutions had greatly strengthened Liao's feudal character—and this was nearly an irreversible process. Although the deepening of sinicization reforms had been impeded during Yelu Jing's reign, the upper echelons had nonetheless been steeped in and influenced by Han culture for a very long time.

Taking history as a mirror, it seemed that aristocratic ministers like Yelu Wuzhi also studied Han classical texts, and the Liao court was not without Han ministers. All could clearly see the enormous threat that a unified, powerful Central Plains dynasty posed to them.

Therefore, with two great powers standing side by side, once internal contradictions had been alleviated, it was impossible not to turn attention to the Great Han in the south. Especially now that the Great Han had shown its sharp edge and demonstrated powerful aggressiveness, it had aroused concern in many.

Even in official history, when Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou governed with vigor and campaigned east and west, Liao never ceased its undermining behavior, with constant harassment in the Hebei region.

When Zhou forces attacked the Northern Han, Liao also sent large armies to respond and support, striving to suppress them. It was precisely because of this deep disturbance that Guo Rong, shortly after taking Huainan, could not wait to lead his army north. Recovering Youyan was indeed a great ambition, but striking Liao and reversing the passive situation of northern defense was the primary goal. It was only a lack of follow-through strength that prevented complete success, and he returned ill. Even so, he recovered Ying and Mo, threatened Youzhou with his troops, and laid the foundation for the later Three Passes defense line.

As for why the Great Han was able to enjoy a better international environment and lighter border defense pressure than the Later Zhou—besides the power struggles and political turbulence in Liao similar to official history—the root cause lay in the Battle of Luancheng, which greatly damaged Liao's military strength and national power. The casualties of the army, the change of the imperial succession, and the loss of all war gains that could not compensate the state meant that in the following years, even a decade, Liao did not have sufficient strength to effectively suppress and strike the rising Great Han.

Back then, Yelu Ruan could be said to have had foresight and resolve, personally leading heavy troops to test strength with the Great Han. At that time, the Great Han had only been stable for two or three years, and its overall strength was not particularly strong. If Yelu Ruan had succeeded in provoking a full-scale Han-Liao war, even if he could not destroy the Great Han, he would have greatly weakened its national power and hindered its pace of unification.

But the Huoshendian Rebellion turned all of Yelu Ruan's plans to dust, even costing him his life, and the imperial succession shifted. Seizing this rare window of relaxed circumstances, the sovereign and ministers of the Great Han firmly grasped the opportunity—reforming to strengthen, subduing the southern states, taking territory, cities, and population, growing stronger with each victory.

Inside the side tent, hearing Xiao Husi's words, Xiao Haili wore a serious expression as he looked at him and said: "In recent years, the Great Liao has devoted itself to internal pacification, while the Han state is set on unification. Its threat is growing—though the impact is not deeply felt, it can be discerned. In the Northern Commissioner's view, might the Han state raise an army to campaign north today?"

At the question, Xiao Husi thought for a moment and spoke with firm conviction: "From what I have probed, the Han state already possesses the strength to campaign north, but its government is still occupied with the small states to the south. Once those are leveled and there is no concern to the south, it will certainly turn northward and become an enemy of the Great Liao. War between Liao and Han is ultimately unavoidable!"

Hearing Xiao Husi speak thus, Xiao Haili grew even more cautious and said: "The experiences and observations of this mission—the Northern Commissioner should present them in detail to His Majesty!"

"That is exactly my intention!" Xiao Husi nodded.

"Chancellor of the Northern Administration, the Great King of the Northern Division has arrived!" As the two were conversing, a guard came to report.

"Quickly, invite him in!" Xiao Haili said.

The two rose simultaneously, preparing to go receive him. For his merit in supporting the succession, combined with his erudition, outstanding political talent, and considerable military ability, Yelu Wuzhi had been enfeoffed by Yelu Jing as Great King of the Northern Division, head of Liao's northern-administration system, managing the affairs of the Five Northern Divisions.

In terms of birth, there were many in Liao more noble than Yelu Wuzhi, but in terms of political standing and power, there was almost no one equal to him. Hence, both Xiao Haili and Xiao Husi held this aristocratic minister—who had twice quelled internal turmoil and preserved Khitan strength—in great respect, not daring to show any negligence.

But before the two could leave the tent, Yelu Wuzhi had already lifted the tent flap and entered.

"We pay our respects to the Great King!" The two performed the ritual.

Yelu Wuzhi was in the prime of life, with composed bearing and exceptional demeanor; years in high position gave him a natural air of authority. Waving his hand, Yelu Wuzhi fixed his gaze directly on Xiao Husi and said without preamble: "Hearing that the Northern Commissioner had returned, I came specially to offer my greetings and to hear of your experiences in the south!"

Clearly, Yelu Wuzhi was also concerned about these matters.