Chapter 879: The One Who Strikes the Final Blow

When his heart was restless, wandering about was a fine way to relieve the pressure. Beneath the blazing sun and blue sky, among the solemn and orderly palace chambers, Liu Chengyou strolled aimlessly.

His mind unsettled, he wandered where his feet took him. The attending eunuchs and guards all trod carefully, not daring to disturb the Emperor's thoughts. There were many places he could go in the Han palace, but before he knew it, Liu Chengyou had walked to Kunming Hall.

There were no shortage of consorts and ladies of beauty in the harem, but over the years, only two or three had truly entered Liu Chengyou's heart. Whenever he felt weighed down and weary in body and mind, Empress Fu's side was his most favored harbor.

The atmosphere in Kunming Hall was harmonious, with laughter and cheerful voices rising from time to time. Empress Fu was chatting amiably with the Princess Dowager of Wei, smiling and talking merrily, while Liu Min, the Prince of Wei, ran around a pillar, playing with the gauze curtains, his amusement unclear.

Seeing Liu Chengyou, Liu Min's eyes lit up, and he immediately ran forward, calling out "Father!" Though by ritual he ought to address him as uncle, within the family no one had ever been tactless enough to admonish this.

"Sister-in-law is here too!" Liu Chengyou casually scooped up Liu Min, walked into the inner hall, and said with a light laugh to the Princess Dowager of Wei as the two beautiful women bowed.

The Princess Dowager of Wei's voice was as gentle and moving as her bearing, and she replied: "It has been some time since I last entered the palace, so I specially brought Liu Min in to pay a visit!"

Nodding, Liu Chengyou said: "Sister-in-law is thoughtful. Since you've come to the palace, you should also go to Ciming Hall to see the Empress Dowager!"

"Yes! That is exactly what I intend!" said the Princess Dowager of Wei.

Apparently sensing that the Emperor had come specifically to see the Empress, the Princess Dowager of Wei tactfully took her leave on her own initiative, leaving space for the couple, and led Liu Min toward Ciming Hall.

Empress Fu's pregnant belly was already showing. Indeed, after recovering from her illness, thanks to Liu Chengyou's efforts, the Empress was pregnant again, and Worthy Consort Zhe was expecting at the same time. In terms of fertility, Liu Chengyou was growing ever more confident.

"Someone, serve tea to His Majesty!" Empress Fu ordered.

"No need!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand and said casually: "Liu Min is four years old now, isn't he?"

The elder Lady Fu nodded, looking at Liu Chengyou with some curiosity. After years of mutual understanding, she knew from his opening that he had more to say. Liu Chengyou said: "At the Prince of Wei's residence, with sister-in-law to care for him, I can rest easy. But he is outside the palace after all, and now that he's about the right age, it's time to begin his education. Should we find him a Grand Tutor?"

The Emperor and Empress both harbored a certain guilt and reluctance regarding the sixth son who had been given to the eldest brother, and so they doted on him far more than their other sons. Hearing this, the elder Lady Fu said: "Your Majesty, the sixth son is still young. In my view, there's no need to rush finding him a Grand Tutor. Why not let him go to Wenhua Hall as well, to study with Academician Zhang? That way he can learn and begin his education, and also strengthen the bond between brothers!"

"Mm! Killing two birds with one stone, let it be done as you say!" Liu Chengyou nodded.

Up to now, Liu Chengyou's first five sons had all been studying at Wenhua Hall under Zhang Zhao and Yao Yuanfu, learning letters and martial arts. Of course, the ones he valued most were the four elder sons who had accompanied him on his inspections.

"Second Brother has been busy with state affairs and tense military matters lately — what made you think of coming to the harem?" the elder Lady Fu asked softly.

"My heart is troubled, so I came to see you!" Liu Chengyou replied, then lay down on a reclining chair in the hall.

Noticing the rare weariness on Liu Chengyou's face, she ordered someone to bring a soft cushion, sat behind him, and gently massaged his temples with her fingers, as if trying to smooth away his worries. Liu Chengyou made no reaction, simply quietly enjoying the Empress's care.

"Are you still fretting over the matter of Liao?" the elder Lady Fu asked.

Liu Chengyou said: "You've heard about it too, haven't you?"

"Of late, the dispute between north and south has been raging loudly. Though I am deep in the palace, I naturally hear things!" the elder Lady Fu sighed: "But I haven't seen you this torn and unable to decide in a long time!"

"I naturally hope such hesitation happens as rarely as possible!" Liu Chengyou said: "After all, this concerns the grand strategy of the nation, so I must be cautious and deliberate! Right now, there are two voices in my head — one pulls me north, the other tempts me south. Each has its reasoning, each has its pros and cons, and it troubles me greatly!"

Hearing this, the elder Lady Fu smiled: "This only shows that Second Brother is an enlightened ruler, cautious and resolute, not treating matters of state and military as child's play. This is the blessing of the people of the Great Han!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou laughed along: "So you're saying this trouble is of my own making. Being an enlightened ruler is no easy task! Sometimes I even think — if I were a foolish ruler, wouldn't I be carefree and at ease? Unfortunately, I fear losing the nation!"

Only in front of the elder Lady Fu could Liu Chengyou speak so freely without restraint.

The elder Lady Fu said: "Back then, you ordered the learned academicians to write 'On the Difficulty of Being a Ruler' — didn't you already have this realization then? All these years, you've come this far step by step. There is nothing you cannot face, no difficulty you cannot overcome!"

Empress Fu encouraged Liu Chengyou, and he suddenly asked: "What do you think — should I campaign north or south?"

Hearing the question, the elder Lady Fu shook her head: "How would I know anything about matters of state and military? Even if I did, it would be a woman's shallow view, not worth Second Brother's consideration!"

Liu Chengyou immediately said: "Why must you belittle yourself? Officials in the capital who know nothing of military strategy are everywhere, yet they still talk grandly and hold forth. If you were a man, I would surely make you a high official!"

"I came to Kunming Hall precisely to hear your woman's view!"

Liu Chengyou's tone was light, but the elder Lady Fu did not take it as a joke. Instead, she thought seriously for a moment, then said: "My advice to you is this — think back to how you made choices and decisions when facing such major problems in the past. In all these years, none of your major decisions have been wrong, and so the Great Han has grown ever stronger, with all prefectures and counties at peace!"

The elder Lady Fu said this in a very plain tone, but it was not lacking in praise for Liu Chengyou, and it sounded pleasant to his ears. Sometimes, hearing good words truly could relieve stress and lighten one's burdens.

However, the elder Lady Fu's words did remind Liu Chengyou of something. Though in the past, the final say on such major decisions had always been his own, he had often listened to a wide range of opinions.

The last time there was a dispute over north-south strategy, before making his final decision, he had personally visited Guo Wei, and afterward came the southern campaign. Now Guo Wei was enjoying his retirement at Yaoshan — who in the court could help him make up his mind?

Soon, Liu Chengyou thought of a person.

"I'm returning to Wansui Hall now!" Liu Chengyou opened his eyes, said this to the elder Lady Fu, and left in high spirits without letting her see him off.

In Wansui Hall, Liu Chengyou received alone Wei Renpu, Duke of Lu, Minister of War, and Chief Minister. Toward this veteran minister who had followed him since the very beginning, he always maintained a measure of respect, and so in private, he was always close to him.

At the meeting, he had him take a seat, appearing entirely relaxed, and without wasting words, said directly: "Minister Wei, the dispute between north and south now stands before Us and the Great Han once again. The court and the public are all abuzz with discussion, and the halls of government are filled with endless argument.

In Chongzheng Hall, you rarely speak, and your previous memorials were ambiguous. This concerns the safety of the Great Han and the nation's strategy — We still wish to hear your opinion!"

Wei Renpu was perhaps the most candid minister Liu Chengyou had faced in this period. Facing the Emperor's inquiry, Wei Renpu still did not rush to state his position. A hint of deep contemplation appeared on his upright features. After a moment, he raised his eyes to look at Liu Chengyou and suddenly said: "Your Majesty has already inclined toward a northern campaign, has he not?"

Liu Chengyou was slightly taken aback and asked: "What makes you say that?"

"Given Your Majesty's customary decisiveness in making decisions, had you not intended to campaign north, you would not have had officials of the fifth rank and above deliberate on this matter — you would simply have proceeded according to the existing strategy for pacifying the south!" Wei Renpu said.

Liu Chengyou thought this over and found it quite reasonable, then asked again: "What does Your Minister think?"

"The pros and cons of the north-south strategy have been fully laid out by all the gentlemen over these past two days. I imagine Your Majesty is already clear on them, so I shall not belabor the point!" Wei Renpu clasped his hands and said: "The northern Liao's hostility and threat toward the Great Han is beyond doubt. As Commissioner Chai said, the Khitan certainly do not wish to see the Great Han smoothly pacify Jiangnan, unify the realm, and then turn north to attack them.

The Battle of Yanmen and the scheme at Youzhou have already proven that the Khitan absolutely have designs on using force against the Great Han. I can be certain that if the Great Han crosses the river to pacify the south, the Liao army in the north will surely move at the news. At the very least, they will raid our border passes and harass our soldiers and people, and the Great Han will inevitably fall into a two-front war!"

"This is precisely the concern that has weighed on Us ever since the border situation changed!" Liu Chengyou sighed.

Looking at Liu Chengyou, Wei Renpu said: "As Chancellor Fan said, the north is strong and the south is weak; first the south, then the north; first the easy, then the hard — there is nothing wrong with that. However, if the court launches a great campaign to pacify the south and the Liao army comes south, the cost of defending the north would inevitably be enormous, and could even lead to the collapse of Youzhou and Ji Province. But if the court campaigns north, with Han attacking and Liao defending, could the southern states possibly march north to threaten the court?"

When Wei Renpu said this, Liu Chengyou suddenly felt as if he had been enlightened. His eyes lit up as he stared at Wei Renpu and said: "As you say, both are two-front wars, but the burden and risk of defending one front versus the other are as different as heaven and earth. Moreover, if the Great Han campaigns north, the only concern in the south would be the Jiangnan forces threatening Huainan. But from my understanding of Li, at that time they would more likely be overjoyed, singing and dancing, watching from the sidelines as we fight a bitter war with the Khitan!"

"Your Majesty's talent is extraordinary — Your Minister admires it!" Wei Renpu replied.

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou laughed heartily, his whole body relaxing, and a soaring ambition blazed in his tiger eyes: "I have long wished for a battle with the Khitan. Now that the time has come, since a Han-Liao war is unavoidable, then north we go, to gnaw on this hard bone!"

Having said this, Liu Chengyou looked at Wei Renpu again, and with unavoidable emotion in his voice, said: "You have followed me for many years, repeatedly offering counsel and strategies, always diligent. Your achievements are such that few can match. With your talent and accomplishments, you ought to be the chief minister of this dynasty!"

Hearing the Emperor say this, Wei Renpu immediately adopted a modest posture and said: "Your Majesty overpraises me — how dare I presume! I have received Your Majesty's grace and enjoyed generous treatment for so long. I can only repay it with utmost sincerity and dedication; why should I concern myself with the height or lowness of my position? Moreover, Chancellor Fan has always been incorruptible and upright, and with him as chief minister, all the officials are convinced. I earnestly beg Your Majesty to be careful with such words!"

Hearing this, Liu Chengyou sighed again: "In the court, I fear there is no one whose conduct and talent surpass yours!"