Chapter 993: Leaving Each Other Alone Is Best

"Your Majesty, the Liao envoy has presented gifts—would you care to take a look?" Perhaps sensing the Emperor's slightly vexed mood, the old eunuch Sun the Yan army stepped forward and asked.

"Oh?" Liu Chengyou showed a flicker of interest and ordered, "Then let's have a look—let's see how many gifts this Xiao Husi has brought me this time!"

Outside Chongzheng Hall, basking in the spring sun, looking at the row of gifts neatly arranged by the palace attendants, and flipping through the gift list, Liu Chengyou laughed: "Liao has come to negotiate peace this time with considerable sincerity!"

Aside from that throne cast in gold, there were pearls, jade, gold dust, treasured blades, scepters, ginseng, silver fox furs, white tiger pelts... all rare and exotic items, along with five priceless steeds that even a thousand in gold could not buy.

"Most of these things can't be worn or eaten—what use are they? Does the Liao sovereign think that with such things he can dazzle my eyes and cloud my judgment?" Liu Chengyou said flatly, his tone carrying an unavoidable wariness of Liao and its sovereign.

"With Your Majesty's keen wisdom, how could you be beguiled by such vulgar trinkets!" Lü Yin chimed in from the side: "However, since it is Liao's kind gesture, Your Majesty might as well accept them graciously, lest the Liao envoy think our court lacks sincerity in the peace talks."

Lü Yin certainly had a way with words. With a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, Liu Chengyou walked to the golden throne, gazing at the gold-carved dragon seat that gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight, appearing all the more lifelike.

He then noticed that the various gems set into it were not randomly placed but arranged in the pattern of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper, as if tracing out a painting—not merely opulent, but aesthetically pleasing as well. An emperor seated upon it would seem to symbolize the Purple Forbidden Star at the center of the world, around which all heaven and earth revolve. Beyond its material value, this throne combined craftsmanship and culture, showing that Liao had indeed absorbed a great deal of Han culture.

Lü Yin had clearly also perceived the special nature of this throne and was about to speak, but Liu Chengyou said: "This object reminds me of something among the spoils taken after the pacification of Shu—a vessel called the Seven Treasures Chamber Pot. Compared to this throne, it was even more exquisite..."

Hearing the Emperor say this, Lü Yin quickly fell silent and swallowed back what he had been about to say—comparing this object to a chamber pot was clearly not a good analogy.

Liu Chengyou then asked: "Do you know what I did with it?"

"Your servant does not know." Lü Yin was somewhat curious. As an official who had only recently entered court, even though he was now a close minister to the Son of Heaven and had crammed up on various matters, there was still much he did not understand.

"I smashed it to pieces at the palace gate!" Liu Chengyou revealed a slight smile.

"This gem—consider it a reward for your good counsel—I give it to you!" So saying, Liu Chengyou picked up a gem and tossed it to Lü Yin. It was a deep blue stone with a faint shimmering glow, still dazzling under the sunlight, and certainly worth a fortune on the open market.

Caught off guard by the sudden gift, Lü Yin fumbled to catch it, held it in his hands, and demurred: "Your Majesty, your servant's words were mere speculation. Since I can claim neither strategic merit nor achievement, I dare not accept a reward!"

"Whether you have merit is for me to judge. Accept it—surely you don't mean to forcibly refuse what I bestow?" Liu Chengyou waved his hand.

Seeing the Emperor's firm attitude, Lü Yin could only bow in thanks: "Your servant accepts with shame! Many thanks for Your Majesty's generosity!"

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou's expression softened. There were always some ministers who, even when it came to rewards, had to find reasons and be compelled before they would accept...

"Have the remaining jewels and ornaments taken to Kunming Hall for the Empress to distribute; the rest goes into the privy treasury!" Liu Chengyou raised his hand and instructed Sun the Yan army.

No matter how vigilant one remained, glittering treasures always lifted the spirits—even if one's heart was not bewitched, one's eyes were still dazzled. Turning back, Liu Chengyou asked Lü Yin: "Since the Liao sovereign has sent such lavish gifts, should I not also prepare some presents as a return gesture?"

"For the Liao sovereign, a concluded peace treaty might be the most valuable gift of all!" Lü Yin replied.

That was true enough—and by the fifteenth year of Qianyou, Liu Chengyou also felt there was no need to be stingy over such matters. Courtesy required reciprocity, after all, so he had Sun the Yan army handle it.

With the Emperor's authorization given beforehand, while Tao Gu and Xiao Husi were deliberating the specific details of the second Han–Liao peace agreement, Liu Chengyou convened several commissioners of military affairs and generals to discuss matters concerning Liao. The focus of discussion was the possibility of Liao expanding westward and its impact on the Great Han.

Many things, once seen through, were really nothing more than that—the points of confusion before could all find their explanations. Through exchanges with Guo Rong, Murong Yanzhao, Li Chuyun, and Zhao Kuangyin, the conclusion was reached that the likelihood of Liao marching west was extremely high.

As for the reasons, they were quite simple, mainly two: first, to plunder the wealth, grain, and horses of the Western Regions to replenish their own state and recover from their wounds. Second, if the Western Regions fell into Liao's hands, then future conflicts between Han and Liao would have far wider ramifications, and in the northwest strategic theater, Liao might well seize a certain advantage from this. Therefore, for Liao, this held tremendous significance.

Of course, if the Liao army were to march west, they would need to cross Mobei—a campaign of ten thousand li, hardly an easy undertaking. However, with their strength, organizing an army of several tens of thousands of cavalry to expand westward was well within their means. As for the Western Regions, although the Uyghurs of Xizhou dominated there, whether they could withstand a Liao invasion was a huge question mark. A steppe empire might indeed grow stronger the more it fought.

And so Liao's initiative in sending envoys to seek peace became understandable. But then the question arose: if Liao marched west, what impact would it have on the Great Han?

For the present, there would not be much impact, but looking to the distant future, the impact would be enormous. Not to mention the Western Regions—even the Hexi region, a strategic location of such importance, would face tremendous threat. Indeed, although most of the Hexi Corridor was still in Uyghur hands at present, in Emperor Liu's plans, it had long been considered a prize within the Great Han's grasp.

And if Liao achieved its goals, then future confrontations between Han and Liao would involve a far broader scope. Just imagine—two nations clashing across vast lands ten thousand li from east to west. For Liu Chengyou, what came to mind was not galloping horses and clashing blades or bold strategizing, but headache and apprehension. If it came to that, what enormous price would the Great Han have to pay to continue contending with Liao?

Never mind that in the northern expedition war, the Great Han had achieved glorious results and won a great victory. But just as Liao had undergone a shift in thinking regarding future wars, the Great Han likewise had this awareness—if one thought Liao could be easily extinguished, that would be committing the sin of underestimating the enemy.

As for how the Great Han could respond to Liao's westward advance—the conclusion reached was that there was little that could be done; preventing it was completely impossible.

Just as Liao was powerless to stop the Great Han from unifying the south, with the Great Han's influence only just beginning to reach the Hexi Corridor, the Great Han's desire to disrupt Liao's western campaign strategy was a case of having the will but not the strength. The alternative would be another northern expedition—and unless Emperor Liu had lost his mind, he would never make such a choice.

All the preparations for pacifying the south had already reached their current stage, with no possibility of change. It had to be said that Liao had chosen its timing well. Perhaps they were simply waiting for the right moment—whenever the Great Han began its southern campaign, Liao would begin its western expedition.

And sending envoys to conclude a peace treaty might simply be buying an insurance policy—both sides needed some peace of mind. After all, the Great Han did not want the north to be unstable while campaigning in the south.

Of course, the Great Han was not entirely helpless—stabbing someone in the back was still possible. For instance, inciting the Uyghurs, reminding the Guiyi Army, warning the powers of the Western Regions—but none of these could play a decisive role.

If it truly came to that step, perhaps all one could do was "wish" that their westward advance would go poorly, encounter stubborn resistance, and suffer enormous losses...

Perhaps the Liao sovereign and his ministers never imagined that a single initiative to seek peace would lead the Great Han's sovereign and ministers to divine their intentions for marching west. But likewise, at the current juncture, there was no longer any need for the absolute secrecy of the past—after all, Liao's preparations and movements had long since drawn attention, and once they launched, there was no need to conceal anything. On the other hand, the cards between Han and Liao were essentially on the table: if you pacify the south, I'll campaign west—as long as we leave each other alone, all is well...