Chapter 363: War Breaks Out

Taihe Hall.

Looking at the state letter forwarded from below, Emperor Yongning flew into a rage.

He had refrained from confronting the Annamese before, assuming they would quiet down and send envoys to beg for forgiveness.

He never expected that instead of forgiveness, he received an accusation.

They dared to threaten with military force, demanding that he, the Emperor, go to them to beg for pardon.

“My loyal ministers, do you have anything to say?”

Emperor Yongning asked coldly.

Da Yu is not Da Song; if such a vassal state provokes us and we do nothing, he will become a laughingstock among all Da Yu emperors.

Even the weak Da Song once launched a campaign to punish the Annamese for their provocations.

Annam’s arrogance stems largely from the lingering aftermath of the civil-military rivalry of that era.

If not for certain self-proclaimed virtuous ministers who abandoned Jiaozhi for short-term gains, there would be no Annam today.

Problems left unresolved during the empire’s peak became disasters by the dynasty’s twilight.

Faced now with the Annamese king’s threat, Emperor Yongning realized with embarrassment that he could only react passively.

“Your Majesty, Annam’s ambitions are glaringly clear—a great war is inevitable.

Multiple officials, including the Guangxi Provincial Governor, Administrator, and Surveillance Commissioner, jointly submitted a memorial urging the court to strengthen Guangxi’s defenses against Annam’s invasion.

High-ranking figures such as the Duke of Cheng, Marquis of Wuyang, and Marquis of Hanshui offered differing views on the Annam issue.

They believe Annam’s ambitions are too great; passive defense alone is insufficient. They advocate reclaiming the Hanoi region and rebuilding the Jiaozhi Administrative Commission.”

Chief Grand Secretary Wan Junhui replied.

The Da Yu court had argued over the Annam issue more than once, always ending in stalemate.

But previously, no one had anticipated that Annam would dare such audacity.

Even during the last state letter incident, everyone assumed Annam was merely testing Da Yu, at most seeking opportunities to annex a few vassal states allied with us.

No one imagined Annam would dare turn its target directly on Da Yu.

In terms of development, the Two Guangs are certainly more advanced than other regions of the Zhongnan Peninsula, but this is Da Yu’s territory.

Da Yu could abandon Jiaozhi, but it cannot abandon the Two Guangs.

Even when the Liaodong front deteriorated so badly, no minister dared suggest abandonment—how much less the Two Guangs?

“Oh!”

“Do they have a concrete battle plan?”

Emperor Yongning asked eagerly.

To become a revitalizing monarch of Da Yu, Emperor Yongning’s ambition had not been extinguished by earlier setbacks.

Cultivating civil virtue internally and strengthening military preparedness externally—these are indispensable steps to becoming a revitalizing monarch.

Compared to conservative defense, reclaiming lost territory and rebuilding the Jiaozhi Administrative Commission clearly suited his taste better.

The rebel forces in Guanzhong had been severely crippled; the Sichuan rebels were also bogged down.

The southern rebels had been crushed into a corner; with a little more time, the southeastern provinces would return to peace.

Once the south stabilized, Da Yu’s finances would gradually improve.

With internal problems resolved, external troubles now came to the fore.

He had originally intended to deal with the northern barbarians first, but now that Annam had jumped out to provoke, dealing with the southern enemy first was equally viable.

“No!”

“The main forces of the Two Guangs are all concentrated at the front; the garrisons left behind are all Wei-suo troops, with extremely limited combat capability.

The initial phase must focus on defense, with localized counterattacks as auxiliary.

To stabilize the overall situation, Marquis of Wuyang recommended that Marquis of Hanshui return to the Two Guangs to take charge and secure the key prefectures and counties.”

Wan Junhui admitted frankly.

Deep inside, he had long wanted to curse.

The aristocratic faction had the direct ability to submit memorials to the Emperor, yet they deliberately followed procedure and first submitted them to the Grand Secretariat.

If it were merely a routine handoff, it wouldn’t matter—but the timing was perfect.

It could have arrived a day earlier or later—yet it arrived precisely after the Guangxi Provincial Governor’s memorial.

The memorial was still in the hands of the Grand Secretariat, not yet forwarded to Emperor Yongning; now that the Emperor asked, naturally only he could answer.

It appeared to be a mere paraphrase, but in truth, it was forcibly co-opting their position.

Reclaiming lost territory is politically correct.

The once-taboo Jiaozhi issue had been brought to the surface; publicly, the Grand Secretariat could not oppose it.

The ministers who originally advocated abandoning Jiaozhi—even now—were still cursed as traitors by the people.

Especially in recent years, with the popularity of novels and storybooks.

Public condemnation of them surged higher and higher, equating them directly with Qin Hui and Zhong Xingshuo.

Their descendants suffered the greatest fall: from noble heirs to traitor heirs.

Former students, subordinates, relatives, and friends all severed ties with them.

One by one, they were forced to relocate, dared not reveal their family names in public, and served in court with extreme caution.

Afraid that any day someone might expose their identity and draw a mob of scholars to attack them.

Especially the Liaodong literati forced to migrate south, who showed particular intensity on this issue.

Everyone looked to the court to drive back the enemy and reclaim their ancestral lands from the northern barbarians.

Denouncing these families was, in effect, using them as a cautionary tale to eliminate any official’s notion of abandoning Liaodong.

The effect was striking: to protect their reputations in life and after death, the peace faction officials fell silent; no one in court dared speak of abandoning Liaodong again.

“It violates protocol for a Provincial Military Commander to hold both military and civil authority.”

“The war has broken out in Guangxi; the Guangxi Provincial Governor should preside over the overall situation…”

As soon as Chu Linjie spoke half his sentence, he realized the problem.

Only by concentrating the military strength of both Guang provinces could key prefectures be saved; leaving Guangxi alone would be too difficult.

Entrusting authority to the Guangxi Provincial Governor—let alone whether he had the ability to repel Annam—simply coordinating troop movements and supplies across two provinces was a massive problem.

The Guangdong Provincial Governor and the Two Guangs Military Commander were not subordinates of the Guangxi Provincial Governor.

Even if the court issued an imperial decree appointing Zhang Sihan as Imperial Commissioner, he could not integrate the Two Guangs’ armies in a short time.

To rapidly integrate the Wei-suo troops of the Two Guangs, the best choice was naturally to send Marquis of Wuyang back.

As the Two Guangs Viceroy, he was the legitimate military and civil authority, entitled to mobilize manpower, resources, and finances from both provinces.

But that was impossible.

Marquis of Wuyang, while serving as Two Guangs Viceroy, also concurrently held the post of Jiangnan Viceroy.

At the critical moment of reclaiming Nanjing, the Jiangnan Viceroy could not be absent.

Compared to Nanjing, Guangxi was far inferior in both strategic value and political status.

Under these circumstances, Li Mu became the only viable candidate.

Although the Two Guangs Military Commander did not handle civil affairs, he commanded the armies of both provinces.

Once he returned, he could take command immediately, without wasting time on coordination, and could deploy troop combat effectiveness swiftly.

“Director Chu, the Guangxi Provincial Governor is indeed capable, but he is not skilled in military affairs.

In resisting Annam’s invasion, Governor Zhang also favors having Commander Li take charge.”

Gu Jiaxi immediately interrupted.

Gifts cannot be received without obligation.

Zhang Sihan was eager to maneuver his departure from Guangxi because he sensed danger.

All the recruited troops of the Two Guangs were at the front; only the Wei-suo troops remained—how could they possibly hold back hundreds of thousands of Annamese soldiers?

Letting Li Mu take charge at least allows mobilization of the Wei-suo troops from both provinces; if Zhang Sihan were put in charge, even commanding troops within his own province would be an overachievement.

It’s not that the subordinate commanders disobeyed orders—it’s the traditional Da Yu military custom: the mobilization allowance.

The Guangxi Provincial Governor’s office is impoverished and cannot afford to pay.

Ironically, the Wei-suo offices are relatively wealthy.

After driving out the rebels, Li Mu thoroughly reformed the Wei-suo system, eliminating land encroachment—a fact known to all ministers.

To the Grand Secretariat, the Two Guangs’ Wei-suo may not be rich, but their treasuries should have accumulated some funds.

Yet getting Wei-suo commanders to hand over their money and grain is no easy task.

“Grand Secretary, Governor Zhang is being modest.

In the earlier campaigns against the rebels, he also achieved results.

The Guangxi Provincial Governor’s rank is insufficient to command both provinces, but the Two Guangs Viceroy can.

Marquis of Wuyang has long held both positions and bears immense pressure—he needs someone to share the burden.

Your Majesty, I recommend Guangxi Provincial Governor Zhang Sihan as Two Guangs Viceroy, to fully oversee resistance against Annam’s invasion!”

Pei Xueqing’s words reignited the civil-military rivalry.

The Viceroy position was established for suppressing rebellions; now that the war nears its end, the question of power distribution arises.

The wealthiest provinces of Da Yu are all in the hands of the aristocratic faction—a situation the civil officials cannot tolerate.

But since the front-line war continues, it is not yet appropriate to discuss replacing or abolishing the Viceroy position.

Now the opportunity has presented itself—perfect timing to seize the Two Guangs Viceroy post.

Recommending Zhang Sihan appears to be an honor, but in truth, it is a trap.

Zhang Sihan’s achievements in the policy of replacing hereditary chieftains with imperial officials restored him to prominence, making him a political rising star of the court.

If he returned to the imperial court, he would surely secure a position of real power and become one of the reserve Grand Secretaries.

As political rivals, they could not allow such a thing to happen.

Direct suppression was too difficult and risked earning the accusation of jealousy toward talent; instead, they opted for flattery to destroy him.

Should Annan invade, the Two Guangs would become a battlefield, bringing no end of troubles.

By seizing the nobility faction’s cake, they would surely refuse to cooperate fully during the campaign.

If problems arose on the front lines, dismissal was inevitable.

With this stain on his record, all his prior achievements would be rendered meaningless.

“Your Majesty, this must not be done!”

“The rebellion suppression is at a critical juncture; replacing the Viceroy of the Two Guangs now would only hand the rebels an opportunity.”

Leaving aside other concerns, control of the Six Garrisons of the Two Guangs—the main force suppressing the rebellion—is a major headache.

One misstep, and the encirclement of the rebels would be undone.

Moreover, the internal affairs of the Two Guangs are far from easy to sort out.

For the sake of stability, it would be best to have Marquis of Han River oversee affairs and act on behalf of the Viceroy of the Two Guangs!”

Gu Jiaxi responded forcefully.

It was clear he was truly angry.

To protect his own protégé, he pushed Li Mu forward.

Acting as Viceroy of the Two Guangs may seem merely temporary, but in reality, it effectively secures the next appointment as Viceroy.

Once Marquis of Wuyang steps down, Li Mu’s succession is all but certain.

Though it emboldened the nobility faction, he did not believe he was aiding the enemy.

The war with Annan will not end anytime soon.

Sending a civil official to serve as Viceroy would fail to command authority.

One misstep, and even he might be drawn in.

This hot potato was something even the cleverest avoided.

Those who dared compete for it were likely mentally unsound.

Sending such fools out would be a disaster for the nation.

As the two Grand Secretaries clashed, their subordinates rushed into battle, and the Taihe Hall soon erupted in a storm of spittle.

“Silence!”

“This is the imperial court, not a marketplace.”

All officials who disrupted court decorum shall have half a month’s salary deducted as punishment!”

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Wan Junhui stepped forward decisively to halt it.

As for the punishment, it could be safely ignored.

The court still owed everyone their salaries; deducting pay was merely offsetting prior arrears.

The Ministry of Revenue was bankrupt; no one knew when—or if—the arrears would ever be paid; it was a “lifetime project.”

Punishing with something no one could receive naturally had little effect, yet Emperor Yongning was very satisfied.

After watching this grand spectacle, the court’s debt had shrunk by several thousand taels.

Though the sum was small, it was a good beginning.

The officials had prepared themselves for the court to default, but the emperor had no intention of doing so.

“I understand the sentiments of all my ministers.”

“Issue the edict: Marquis of Han River shall act as Viceroy of the Two Guangs and oversee resistance against Annan.”

“Order the Provincial Governors of Guangdong and Guangxi to fully cooperate and strive to defend the nation’s territory!”

Emperor Yongning spoke without expression.

The ministers’ bickering was merely a reference for his decision.

What truly prompted him to appoint Li Mu was the vision of reclaiming lost lands and rebuilding the Jiaozhi Provincial Administration.

Had the court’s finances not been so depleted, he would have appointed Li Mu as Governor of Jiaozhi outright to recover the territory.

…

Thang Long City.

“Is it confirmed that Dayu intends to wage war against us?”

Hu Xinbo asked, his expression grave.

He could joke about it casually, but actually going to war against the colossal Dayu still left him uncertain.

Though during the reign of the late emperor, the Great Yue Dynasty expanded by hundreds of thousands of square kilometers and conquered over twenty states, it seemed immensely powerful.

That was only because the opponents were weak—many were mere tribes with populations of only a few thousand.

They had never truly faced a formidable enemy.

The most powerful among them, Chenla, had a population of only several hundred thousand and was already in decline.

Even with ambition, he merely wished to gradually nibble away at the Three Xuan and Six Wei territories under Dayu’s suzerainty while Dayu was embroiled in internal chaos.

“Your Majesty, the news came from the Guangxi Provincial Surveillance Commissioner’s office.

It is said the Dayu Emperor, upon learning of our destruction of their vassal state and our designs on the Dayu Xuanwei Commission, intends to launch an invasion.

There are indeed Dayu troops massing along the border; this is likely true.”

Ding Weiqi replied immediately.

A new emperor brings new ministers; since the new sovereign’s ascension, their days as old ministers had grown difficult.

Knowing they should make way for the new generation, he, as Tongzheng Commissioner, had grown lax in intelligence gathering.

Following the principle that less trouble was better, he avoided bothering Hu Xinbo unless absolutely necessary.

Had the matter not been so grave, he wouldn’t have bothered reporting it at all.

“Impossible!”

“Dayu is busy suppressing internal unrest; how could it spare attention for us?

This is surely the Guangxi officials bluffing, using the threat of war to force us to abandon our annexation of the Three Xuan and Six Wei.”

Chancellor Cui Ziyan flatly denied it.

“Report!”

“Six-hundred-li urgent dispatch from the front!”

“Dayu troops have crossed the border, looted Hejiang, Gaoping, and other areas, killed...”

(End of Chapter)