Chapter 878: Each Holding to His Own Opinion

Inside Chongzheng Hall, chancellors were seated and generals gathered—this was already the second imperial council personally presided over by Emperor Liu Chengyou in recent days. Even Li Gu, who had originally planned to depart for Yangzhou to prepare for the southern pacification campaign, had slowed his departure and remained in Kaifeng because of this storm in the capital.

However, throughout this great court debate, Li Gu had not voiced his own views, remaining silent and watchful. The reason was simple: the Emperor had already set his sights on the southern affairs. From his personal interest, supporting the pacification of the south first was beyond doubt, but as a renowned minister with a sense of the bigger picture, he could not go against his conscience and completely ignore the threat from the north.

The high ministers who held the reins of power in the Great Han naturally split into two factions.

A group of ministers led by Fan Zhi and Xue Juzheng strongly advocated defending the north while attacking the south, doing their utmost to repair relations with Liao, and following the established grand strategy—only after Jiangnan was secured would they turn their attention northward. Similar ideas and rhetoric had originally come from Liu Chengyou himself, the Emperor.

Of course, under the current circumstances, the Emperor's attitude had become impartial, and no one could fathom his true intentions. As for why Fan Zhi and the other ministers resolutely supported the southern advance, in their view, the importance of unification far outweighed resisting foreign aggression—the principle of "to resist external threats, one must first pacify internal disorder." Once the south was unified, the court could free its hands to focus exclusively on the northern threat, and with the powerful foundation of the Central Kingdom, it would be sufficient to contain Liao.

Those who supported the northern expedition, resolving the Khitan threat first, were led by Commissioner of Military Affairs Guo Rong and a group of ministers and generals. Just over a month ago, Guo Rong had been discussing southern pacification affairs with the Emperor and making strategic preparations for it—why the sudden change of course, and why directly enter the fray with an explicit stance?

The reason lay in the Liao army's unusual movements this time. Guo Rong was a man with a strong sense of crisis. Previously, Han and Liao had coexisted peacefully, each minding their own business, allowing the Great Han to focus on the south. Now that Liao had shown hostility and even brazenly moved troops, their menacing gaze made Guo Rong and his like feel as if thorns were pricking their backs.

The reality was plain to see: their power reached south of the frontier, and the Liao army could use this to launch large-scale incursions through the passes. Even with strong troops and fierce generals guarding the north, the vast Youzhou-Jizhou plain could not be defended everywhere—so-called perfect defense lines were only relative.

If Liao launched a full-scale invasion southward, it would be basically impossible for them to destroy the Great Han. But if the two nations clashed in Youzhou and Jizhou, it could very likely devastate the region, causing severe damage to the local military and civilians. In the early days of the Great Han, they had been willing to fight Liao with the determination to let Hebei be utterly destroyed—could they still bear such losses now?

Even if they could, when the nation's strength was sufficient and they had the ability to strike first and seize strategic advantage, why passively defend? Peace in the north had to be fought for.

Guo Rong laid out these views fully before Liu Chengyou, and proposed a sober and realistic goal: the northern expedition was not to destroy Liao, but merely to seize the strategic passes of the Yan Mountains and drive the Liao army's forces completely beyond the frontier. After plugging the enormous hole in the northern defense line, whether continuing to battle Liao or restarting the unification war, the Great Han would act with greater ease and room to maneuver.

The vision Guo Rong proposed was not overambitious, was feasible, and struck a chord with many generals who possessed sound military judgment—hence it garnered considerable support.

Of course, there were also supporters of the southern pacification in the military. After all, compared to the powerful northern Liao, the several separatist petty states in the south were easier to fight. Destroying a state was equally great merit, easier to obtain, and carried the temptation of their rich and fertile lands.

As for the opinions of the officers deployed in the south, one needn't think too hard—most of them lacked the foresight to see the whole picture, and they tended to view matters and voice opinions from their own standpoint.

Among the senior generals in the capital, it was Zhao Kuangyin who expressed somewhat ambiguous support for the southern campaign. His opinion was to carry out southern pacification while maintaining northern defenses and doing one's best to repair relations. Though he had reservations, his inclination was fairly clear.

A large portion of the others remained neutral, their eyes and ears fixed on the Emperor—whatever decision he ultimately made, they would obediently follow.

As for the analysis and comparison of the two nations' strength, with the support of the intelligence department, half of Liao's situation could be discerned, and as for the Great Han's own condition, the ministers responsible for governing the country had a clear understanding as well. In short, the Great Han's current strength was fully sufficient to fight a war with Liao, with the confidence and foundation to win.

The memorials on the imperial desk in Chongzheng Hall had been replaced with a fresh batch, arranged neatly. Besides the recent memorials from civil and military officials in the capital on northern and southern affairs, there were, unsurprisingly, the requests for battle from the northern generals. From Prince of Chenliu An Shenqi on down, and all the Army Commanders, they vied to request battle. Compared to the Eastern Capital, southwestern, and southern armies, which had grown fat and full from the southern campaign strategy, the northern soldiers were a pack of hungry wolves. Even if the northern Liao was a hard bone, they dared to bite down.

All had arrived, no stray voices, the atmosphere solemn as ever. As all eyes stared straight ahead, another debate was brewing. As the palace eunuch announced his arrival, Liu Chengyou strode in swiftly, and all the ministers rose to pay their respects.

"All of you, dispense with the formalities!" Taking his seat, Liu Chengyou swept his gaze around and waved his hand crisply.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Looking at the assembled ministers, Liu Chengyou took out a secret report and spoke: "Word has come from Youzhou—Zhao Siwan, the foremost general under the Prince of Yan, has turned traitor and secretly communicated with Liao. The Liao army has secretly massed heavy forces, intending to coordinate with him from within and without to seize Youzhou!"

As his words fell, every minister present changed color. After more than a decade, the importance of Youzhou to the Great Han needed no further emphasis. Guo Rong's body tensed, urgency showing on his face, and he asked with a slight loss of composure: "Your Majesty, what was the outcome?"

Meeting the ministers' anxious gazes, Liu Chengyou's answer let them breathe a sigh of relief: "Thanks to the Prince of Yan's vigilance, he detected the conspiracy in advance, took decisive measures, and apprehended Zhao Siwan and his rebel followers, quelling the internal trouble and stabilizing military morale. Defenses are now being actively prepared to repel the Liao army!"

"So that explains the Liao army's unusual movements in the Yanmen direction—it must have been a feint to draw the attention of the court and Youzhou, while they intended to deliver a fatal blow at Youzhou. Had they succeeded, the northern situation would inevitably have deteriorated, and Your Majesty's decade of planning would have suffered a major setback! Fortunately, Heaven protects the Great Han, and the Khitan's conspiracy was thwarted!" Murong Yanzhao remarked with emotion.

Xiang Xun, having returned to the Eastern Capital with merit from pacifying Shu, had been appointed by Liu Chengyou as Chief Commander of the Imperial Guard's cavalry and infantry, responsible for the daily management of the Imperial Guard Command. This came as somewhat of a surprise to others. After all, given the Emperor's usual tendencies, one who had achieved the merit of destroying a state would typically be shelved for a period even if he were to continue being valued.

Previously, when Murong Yanzhao returned from pacifying Jinghu, he still held the post of Palace Commander, yet Liu Chengyou had sent him to patrol the borders of Hebei for several months, while the daily affairs of the Palace Command were handled by Han Tong.

Judging from his appointment of Xiang Xun, the Emperor's magnanimity seemed to have grown—of course, it also lay in his greater self-confidence. Moreover, the authority of the commanders of the two imperial army commands was far less than in the early days of the state; the Chief Generals of the subordinate armies all had the power to report military matters directly to the throne.

As for Zhao Kuangyin, he had also been transferred to the Imperial Guard Command as deputy commander—the two men continuing to work as a team. At this moment, Xiang Xun, also seated in attendance, spoke up: "With Liao's scheme foiled, I fear they may rage and raise their army, directly attacking Youzhou. A great war may break out—regardless, the court should fully awaken and prepare for battle!"

"Not so!" At this point, Fan Zhi shook his head: "It is now midsummer, the weather unbearably hot—not the time for the Liao army to move troops! I believe that since their scheme has failed, with the Prince of Yan on guard, they may not dare to force a campaign. Word has already come that this Liao army incursion south was merely a detached force, and their territory has not been greatly mobilized. I believe Liao is not prepared for an all-out war with the Great Han!"

"So Chancellor Fan still harbors illusions of Han-Liao peace?" As Fan Zhi finished, Guo Rong immediately rose, facing Liu Chengyou with a somewhat intense tone: "The Great Han had no intention of a northern expedition, yet the Khitan harbored designs against us. From the battle at Yanmen to the Youzhou conspiracy, their intentions are clear. Had it not been for our soldiers' valor and the Prince of Yan's vigilance in foiling their scheme, the Great Han's northern frontier would surely have collapsed, placing our court at a strategic disadvantage against Liao.

The facts prove that the Great Han's strength has made Liao deeply fearful and restless. With such a northern foe harboring malice and watching from the side, how can the Great Han peacefully turn south, and how can Your Majesty sleep soundly?

Since Liao has taken the initiative to stir up conflict, the Great Han can only face it head-on, rise to the challenge, and adopt an aggressive offensive strategy—that is the way to break the deadlock!"

"I cannot agree with Commissioner Chai's words!" Guo Rong was somewhat blunt, and Fan Zhi was a man of stiff temper as well, rising immediately: "This Liao army movement was clearly hasty and ill-prepared, and the conspiracy against Youzhou further proves this point. Your Majesty, I believe that while northern Liao may fear the Great Han's strength, this unusual movement likely stems from Zhao Siwan—they sought to use this traitorous general's hand to seize Youzhou, a gamble of desperation.

Now that their scheme has failed, how dare they recklessly mobilize their forces again? Moreover, the defeat at Yanmen should be enough to intimidate them. If the Great Han were to launch a massive northern expedition at this time, Liao would surely be forced to fight a war of invasion—I beg Your Majesty to think thrice!"

"Between Han and Liao, a decisive battle is inevitable sooner or later. Now that Liao has shown hostility and torn up the peace agreement, how can the Great Han swallow this humiliation?" Han Tong could not help but say.

Fan Zhi responded: "Since it is a decisive battle, it concerns the fate of the nation, and demands even greater caution. Better late than early, better slow than hasty!"

"The outcome of a great northern expedition is uncertain—if anything goes wrong, not only would we fail to recover the ancestral lands of the passes and Yunshuo, but it would also affect the Great Han's complete subjugation of the south, stalling the process of unification! Weigh the relative importance, and I beg Your Majesty to deliberate carefully and act prudently!" Fan Zhi said solemnly to Liu Chengyou: "I recommend sending envoys north to communicate with the Liao sovereign, ease relations, and eliminate this border conflict and misunderstanding, buying more time for the Great Han's southern pacification!"

"If the northern threat is not resolved, how can we speak of subjugating Jiangnan? From Liao's actions this time, their wariness of the Great Han runs deep—otherwise why would they brazenly move troops? Would they sit idly by while the Great Han successfully takes Jiangnan, facing a stronger enemy with no worries to the rear?"

Guo Rong said: "When the Sui pacified Southern Chen, they first split the Turks and controlled the northern threat before turning south. How much more so for the Great Han today, having lost the northern strategic passes and with incomplete border defenses? If the frontier defenses are not thoroughly consolidated, the moment our army goes south will be the moment Liao raids south!"

Fan Zhi said: "Jiangnan today is fragmented. The imperial army holds Jinghu, controls Huainan, and grips its vital point—sending a single detached force would suffice to subdue it. How can this be compared to Sui and Chen!"

Perhaps seeing that Fan Zhi seemed somewhat isolated, State Finance Commissioner Xue Juzheng also spoke up, his tone relatively calm: "In recent years, the Great Han has fought repeatedly and destroyed states; the soldiers are inevitably weary, and the state treasury has been greatly depleted. In the short term, I fear it will be difficult to support a northern expedition!"

Hearing this, Guo Rong immediately said: "The forces mobilized so far amount to less than half of the Great Han's military preparedness. The northern armies and the Eastern Capital imperial army, trained and awaiting battle for years, number in the hundreds of thousands—how can you speak of weariness? As for granary support, not to mention the Great Han's revenues—the wealth shipped north from Chuanshu, boats by the hundreds and thousands, carts and pack animals filling the roads for years—has all this enormous wealth been consumed in just these few months?"

At these words, Xue Juzheng gave an awkward smile; before the Emperor, he could hardly fob him off with empty words.

Fan Zhi picked up the thread: "The northern situation is still unclear, and Liao's intentions are uncertain. If our court mobilizes its forces on a grand scale, we would be forcing them into war and leaving the Great Han no room for choice—this demands great caution!"

"......"

Listening to the fierce debate among his ministers, Liu Chengyou felt a slight headache. He remained silent for a long while, then simply rose from his desk and left. With the Emperor gone, the ministers in the hall exchanged glances and tacitly fell silent—this was, after all, not a marketplace, and without an audience, there was no point in continuing their arguments.

Shortly after, palace eunuch Sun Yanxi came to convey Liu Chengyou's oral decree, telling the assembled officials to return to their posts and attend to government affairs. Clearly, the Emperor had still not made a decision. Since Liu Chengyou's ascension to the throne, such moments of hesitation had been rare, and each time they came, they preceded major decisions.

In fact, since the Huainan campaign in the fourth year of Qianyou, there had been little room for debate over the northern and southern strategies. Yet this time, Liu Chengyou had the Great Han's civil and military officials deliberate anew—from this, one could glimpse that his thinking had indeed shifted.