Chapter 99: Two Talented Men

At Luancheng, as Liu Chengyou's continuous gestures to win over hearts and minds continued, the atmosphere in the camp became much more harmonious, with military morale and popular sentiment gradually stabilizing.

The expansion of the Longqi Army was proceeding smoothly. Besides the competence of his subordinate commanders and the willingness of the surrendered Jin soldiers to be reorganized, rewards and treatment were also important—in this era, winning over soldiers was not particularly difficult.

And as those surrendered Jin soldiers were absorbed and digested, the hidden danger of having too many Yan troops immediately diminished considerably. It was clearly noticeable that a portion of the Yan troops had become much more subdued.

Through informants bought among the Yan troops, Liu Chengyou had heard that before the expansion and reorganization, quite a few of the Yan army's officers, tempted by greed, had secretly incited mutiny—but Liu Chengyou's defenses were tight, and they never got their chance. Now that the Jin soldiers had completely submitted, there was even less opportunity!

In the meantime, Liu Chengyou organized men to clear away the corpses scattered along the banks of the Xiao River. Burying them was too laborious, so they were burned directly. The weather had already turned very hot, and an epidemic had to be prevented.

At the entrance of a spacious military tent, surrounded by tightly guarded camps, a middle-aged scholar stood with his hands clasped behind his back, slightly hunched, carefully peering outward. Watching the soldiers patrolling past in orderly fashion, he couldn't help but stroke the thick mustache on his lip and sigh: "These Hedong troops are truly formidable. With such a strong army, this realm rightfully belongs to the Liu clan!"

The middle-aged scholar was thin, with an air of Confucian refinement. Judging by his brow, his mood seemed somewhat anxious. His name was Tao Gu. He had served as a Secretariat Drafter in the Later Jin court and had held various posts before, though his official career had not been particularly smooth. Amid the chaos of war, his luck had not been bad—he had survived and was housed together with a group of Jin court officials, now dressed in clean clothes, no longer bearing the disheveled appearance of that day.

"This young man of the Liu family—young as he is, he is decisive and commanding. With a mere eight thousand men, he defeated the Khitan's hundreds of thousands. Throughout history, those who accomplished such feats were all people of great boldness and vision. This young man is truly extraordinary!" Tao Gu turned and paced a few steps inside the tent, clicking his tongue in wonder.

Over the past two days, news of the Battle of Luancheng had already spread among the soldiers and civilians, and with covert pushing, it was rapidly disseminating further. These Jin court officials naturally had heard of it as well—men of letters always habitually comment on current affairs.

There were three or four other people in the tent, all former courtiers of the Later Jin. With nothing better to do, they chimed in with Tao Gu to discuss the matter.

"But—" Tao Gu sighed, his gaze sweeping across, then pausing. He swallowed back the disrespectful words rising in his throat and rephrased: "We are considered important ministers of the court, yet it's been two days now, and they haven't deigned to receive us—just leaving us here to cool our heels..."

Hearing Tao Gu's words, one official picked up the thread: "I've heard that Lord Feng and Lord Li have been treated with considerable courtesy by the Second Prince!"

"Heh heh..." Tao Gu pursed his lips, masking some embarrassment with self-deprecation: "It seems we are of low rank and humble position, not worth their attention. That's only to be expected."

There was a hint of sourness in his tone.

Just as he finished speaking, a commotion came from outside—the clear rustle of scale armor. A military officer walked in and casually clasped his hands in greeting: "Which one is Tao Gu, Drafter Tao?"

The newcomer was clearly a military man, a junior officer, somewhat brusque and not very polite, with an aggressive look in his eyes. Seeing this, the several people in the tent instinctively looked toward Tao Gu.

Facing the officer's fierce expression, Tao Gu's heart skipped a beat, but his mental fortitude was decent, and he quickly composed himself, asking cautiously: "I am Tao Gu. May I ask, General, what business you have with me?"

The officer's eyes widened as he looked Tao Gu up and down, then directly announced: "His Highness summons you. Come with me now!"

"Ah?" Tao Gu was slightly startled and was about to ask a question, but the officer gave him no chance—turning around, he strode off.

Seeing this, Tao Gu snapped back to his senses, a flash of joy passing through his eyes. He hastily straightened his robes, adjusted his headwrap, and hurried after the officer with quick, mincing steps. With such a solemn demeanor, where was the "indignation" of his earlier complaints?

Along the way, after carefully slipping a piece of green jade to the officer, Tao Gu learned his identity—the captain of Liu Chengyou's personal guards.

After a round of flattering praise, Tao Gu cautiously probed: "I am of low rank and humble position—how did His Highness the Prince come to know of me?"

The captain didn't take it seriously and answered directly: "Seems it was recommended by that former chancellor named Li Song!"

Hearing this, Tao Gu relaxed completely, silently giving Li Song a mental thumbs-up. In fact, Li Song had always been Tao Gu's patron in his official career; it was Li Song who had discovered and promoted him in the Later Jin court.

"Your Highness, this is the roster of all officers at the rank of Captain and above after the reorganization!" Inside the central command tent, Zhang Yanwei and Guo Rong, the current number one and two leaders of the Longqi Army, reported to Liu Chengyou together.

Taking the roster booklet, Liu Chengyou directly skipped over the generals at the army level and above—those were mostly appointed by him personally and held little interest. He focused on the officers at the battalion and company levels, as building up officers at this tier was especially important.

Through Guo Rong's explanations, Liu Chengyou gradually gained a clear picture. In the Battle of Luancheng, casualties among mid- and low-ranking officers had been heavy, so promotions were basically made according to military merit. After the adjustments, the original officers and men of the Longqi Army had essentially all been promoted.

Additionally, some Jin army officers had been selected and retained—a measure to soothe military morale, since one had to mind appearances and maintain harmony and stability.

Liu Chengyou particularly noticed the name of Yang Ye—Commander of the Left Battalion of the Cavalry. With so many war horses captured, not expanding the cavalry would be doing oneself a disservice. However, while there were many in the army who could ride, too few could fight on horseback. After painstaking selection, only a cavalry force of two thousand was formed, divided into four battalions: left, right, front, and rear.

And Yang Ye, relying on the military merit he had accumulated in this short period, plus the opportunity of this expansion, had finally achieved a breakthrough and become a mid-ranking officer. His rate of promotion was truly not slow, and aside from the rumors of Liu Chengyou's special attention to him, he hadn't attracted too much envy.

Because some people had risen even faster than him—like Yang Ye's superior Han Tong, like Guo Rong standing before Liu Chengyou at this moment, like Murong Yanzhao who had already become Chief Commander of the Right Wing of the Longqi Army. These three either had rich resumes or were born to high starting points, but they all shared one trait: sufficient capability.

"This Li Yun?" Noticing a "pending" notation after Li Yun's name, Liu Chengyou looked at the two men with some confusion.

This time it was Zhang Yanwei who spoke up proactively: "Your Highness, regarding Li Yun, this general believes that a newly surrendered general should be given command of one battalion. However, Chief Inspector Guo believes he should be granted a position at the army level."

Liu Chengyou looked at Guo Rong, who wore a sharp, determined expression and said: "This general believes that since the Jin soldiers have newly merged into our army, among the promoted surrendered officers, not a single one holds a position above army-level command. Even if absolute fairness is difficult to achieve, we should still try our best to make it convincing."

"This Li Yun has served in both the Tang and Jin courts, with a very rich resume in the imperial army. He is skilled in horseback archery, brave and adept in battle. Your Highness might do well to make an example of him, treating him with special favor to demonstrate your sincerity in welcoming submission. Moreover, Your Highness dispatched him to win over the Jin soldiers, and he rendered meritorious service in their surrender!"

After hearing Guo Rong's explanation, Liu Chengyou pondered briefly, then waved his hand: "Since Li Yun is skilled in horseback archery, make him Chief Inspector of the Cavalry, paired with Han Tong!"

Hearing this, Guo Rong thought for a moment, then clasped his hands in praise: "Your Highness is wise."

Seeing Liu Chengyou accept Guo Rong's opinion again while rejecting his own, Zhang Yanwei felt somewhat embarrassed on the side. His expression shifted, and he slowly lowered his eyelids. His peripheral vision swept back and forth between Liu Chengyou and Guo Rong, and he sighed inwardly—this army truly belonged to the young men now.

Picking up his brush, Liu Chengyou signed his approval on the roster, then opened the seal box on the commander's table, took out his Commander-in-Chief seal, stamped it, picked it up and blew on it, then ordered an official beside him to hand it to Zhang Yanwei, instructing: "Proceed according to this roster. I have no objections."

After a brief pause, his eyes flickering, Liu Chengyou added: "As for the officers above a certain rank, I want to meet them personally!"

These words left Guo Rong momentarily speechless. He furrowed his brow in thought, seeming to grasp something, then bowed respectfully: "Yes. This general will make the arrangements at once."

"There is one more matter to report to Your Highness!" Before withdrawing, Guo Rong added.

"What matter?"

"Just now, Commander Li Chongju came to this general to confess his fault..." Guo Rong said.

Liu Chengyou suddenly understood—somewhat surprised, yet as if it were within expectations. It seemed Li Chongju had not forgotten what he had casually mentioned that night.

Stroking his chin, which had been cleanly shaved smooth, Liu Chengyou asked with some curiosity: "How did you handle it?"

"This general weighed his merits and faults and sentenced him to twenty strokes of the cane. Pending Your Highness's confirmation, the punishment can be carried out!" Guo Rong calmly requested Liu Chengyou's approval.

After all, Li Chongju was Liu Chengyou's personal guard officer, so Guo Rong appeared to be quite measured in his handling.

"Approved!" Liu Chengyou stated directly.

After Guo Rong withdrew, Liu Chengyou bent his head to study the map again. Staring at Zhending, he was lost in thought for a while before asking the civil clerk beside him: "Master Wei, what do you think the Liao army at Zhending will choose to do next—how will they act?"

Master Wei referred to Wei Renpu. Xiang Xun had been sent by Liu Chengyou to command troops, and he needed a staff advisor by his side. When he had received Feng Dao and Li Song previously, Liu Chengyou had asked. Feng Dao recommended Wei Renpu, and Li Song recommended Tao Gu.

Wei Renpu had left a good impression on Liu Chengyou when he had gathered the local militia to pledge allegiance. In their exchanges, Liu Chengyou had also sensed this man's extraordinary quality—no matter what Liu Chengyou said or asked, he could always respond fluently and offer his own insights. Favorably disposed toward him, Liu Chengyou had directly taken him on as a staff advisor, granting him the post of Military Counselor.

Wei Renpu was organizing some documents on the side. Hearing the question, he paused his work and answered readily: "If the Liao army is sufficiently level-headed, they will withdraw from our Central Plains quickly."

"Why?"

Liu Chengyou had expected Wei Renpu to launch into a deep analysis of the situation in the Central Plains and Hebei and the state of both armies, but instead Wei Renpu simply answered: "The Liao sovereign died at Luancheng—who focuses on foreign wars when their own country has no ruler?"

Liu Chengyou understood and nodded, a hint of playfulness in his tone: "Previously, I had some concern that the Liao army at Zhending might recklessly attack southward. Now, I actually hope they will come south!"

"Your Highness, the Khitan still have considerable forces in various prefectures. If you wish to exhaust their strength, you might focus on this portion of the enemy!" Wei Renpu proactively suggested.

"I was just thinking the same!" Liu Chengyou replied.

As they were speaking, someone came to the front of the tent to report: "Tao Gu has been brought!"

"Show him in!"

Regarding Tao Gu, Liu Chengyou finally dredged up that vague memory from his mind—wasn't this the very man who, when Zhao Kuangyin usurped the Zhou, had taken the initiative to write out the abdication edict and present it, adding an unnecessary flourish to Zhao the Great's "Chenqiao Mutiny" drama?

When Tao Gu was summoned, he behaved very cautiously before Liu Chengyou. Apart from being overly deferential, there was nothing particularly off-putting about him.

With Wei Renpu also present to keep him company, Liu Chengyou chatted with him casually for a while, then gave Tao Gu a task: "I have heard from Lord Li that Academician Tao is broadly versed in the classics and histories, skilled at composition, and possessed of brilliant literary talent."

"Lord Li praises me too much!" Flattered, Tao Gu feigned modesty, though the corners of his mouth curled slightly upward, clearly carrying a hint of smugness.

"Since the Jin established its state, our Central Kingdom has been deeply oppressed by the Khitan. I have received the Son of Heaven's decree to command all the armies of Hebei in resisting the Liao. In the battle at Luancheng, the officers and soldiers fought valiantly—it was the greatest victory in decades, greatly boosting morale, and it deserves to be properly proclaimed. I would ask Academician Tao to compose a proclamation to be circulated throughout Hebei, summoning the soldiers and civilians of all prefectures to hunt down and slay the barbarian invaders!"

Liu Chengyou made his request without thinking Tao Gu would refuse, yet neither did he expect that the man would request brush and paper, and after only a brief moment of deliberation, write before Liu Chengyou's very eyes, his brush sweeping across the page—nearly completing it in a single draft.

Tao Gu, after all, did wield a fine brush.