Chapter 259: Southern Tang Retreats

Bian Liang, Honglu Temple Guesthouse.

Southern Tang envoy Zhong Mou stood by the window, idly turning a delicate, warm-toned Yue ware celadon tea cup in his hand.

Outside the window was the early summer streetscape of Bian Liang, crowds flowing like a tapestry, the market bustling, seemingly untouched by the war fires of the northern frontier.

But he keenly noticed that, over the past few days, the number of patrolling soldiers in the city had clearly increased, the air tinged with a hidden tension.

Especially yesterday, the court suddenly issued an edict announcing that the palace eunuch Fu An had colluded with foreign enemies and was executed; it was like a massive stone dropped into a deep pool, sending ripples throughout the court and society.

"Fu An……Director of the Wardrobe Bureau……"

Zhong Mou murmured the name, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes.

"The Chen dynasty, though newly founded, can already wield such thunderous means to purge the palace……"

"That Marquis Jing'an, Qian Gui, is truly a fierce hound."

He set down the tea cup and walked to the desk.

On the desk lay spread-out secret reports from various channels.

In Hebei, Liu Yanzuo's rebellion faced off against the Chen forces of Han Tong and Zhang Yongde's unit at Wild Wolf Hollow, the situation deadlocked.

Northern Han's Liu Jun launched a fierce assault on Jinzhou, while the defending commander Li Hong struggled to hold on.

The Khitan Yelü Talie stationed troops on the border, eyeing it tigerishly.

Meanwhile, the new Chen emperor Chen Wen personally led the elite Imperial Guard northward, intending to rush to Jinzhou's aid.

The situation appeared extremely unfavorable for Chen, surrounded on all sides.

Yet Zhong Mou's heart harbored a persistent unease.

The internal cohesion displayed by Chen, and its decisive, even ruthless purge tactics, made him faintly feel that this fledgling dynasty's bones were far harder than imagined.

"His Majesty ordered us to watch and wait, to act when opportunity arises……"

Zhong Mou muttered to himself.

"But where exactly is this 'opportunity'?"

If Chen were to show decline amid internal and external troubles, Southern Tang would naturally not hesitate to move north for a share of the spoils, at least seizing several strategic points in Huainan.

But if Chen withstands the pressure……

then any move by Southern Tang could provoke a frenzied retaliation from this nascent northern behemoth.

Just as he was lost in thought, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Envoy! The Bian Liang court has sent someone! It's Lord Wang Po and Lord Zhang Cheng, already in the front hall!"

Zhong Mou's heart jolted.

Wang Po, formerly the chief strategist of Chai Rong, with deep and far-reaching schemes, has defected to the new dynasty, his status exalted.

Zhang Cheng, Chen's chancellor, overseeing civil affairs and finance, is Chen Wen's absolute confidant.

These two top civil officials of Chen arriving together is certainly no ordinary matter!

He immediately straightened his attire, suppressed his inner turmoil, put on a calm and composed expression, and hurried out to greet them.

In the front hall, Wang Po and Zhang Cheng wore no official robes, only ordinary scholar's attire, yet the dignity of their long-held high positions subtly showed.

After exchanging greetings, host and guest took their seats.

Attendants served fragrant tea; after a few polite remarks, the hall's atmosphere subtly sank into silence.

Zhong Mou's heart drummed, but his face remained unchanged; he gently blew on the tea foam, waiting for them to speak.

Finally, Wang Po set down his teacup and gazed calmly at Zhong Mou.

"Envoy Zhong, have you been accustomed to your stay in Bian Liang lately?"

"Thank you, Lord Wang, for your concern; I feel right at home, very good." Zhong Mou replied with a smile.

"That's good." Wang Po nodded, then abruptly shifted the topic.

"I just don't know why your country's border regions of Shouzhou and Haozhou have seen frequent troop movements lately."

"Could it be that Jianghuai has again produced some rebels requiring heavy suppression?"

Zhong Mou's heart sank, but his smile did not change.

"Lord Wang is well-informed. It's merely a routine autumn defense drill, to guard against the unexpected, certainly not aimed at your state."

"Oh? Autumn defense drill?" Zhang Cheng took up the thread, his tone gentle yet carrying undeniable weight.

"It's only early summer now; your 'autumn defense' seems rather premature."

"Or does Your Majesty think that our newly founded Great Chen, with the northern frontier unsettled, presents an opportunity to be seized?"

This was almost a blunt question!

Zhong Mou's back instantly broke out in a fine sweat; he forced himself to stay calm.

"Lord Zhang overstates it. Our ruler has long admired Central Plains culture and wishes to form a lasting alliance with your state; how could he harbor other thoughts?"

"A lasting alliance?"

Wang Po gave a light smile, but it did not reach his eyes.

"If that is truly the case, it would be a blessing for all under heaven."

"However, our Majesty has recently received a frontier military report that has left him somewhat doubtful; he wishes you to examine it on his behalf."

He paused, then spoke slowly.

"According to the report, Northern Han's Liu Jun's forces appear to have many powerful crossbow bolts from Jianghuai."

"Moreover, within the Chengde Army's rebel forces of Liu Yanzuo, some have heard officers issuing commands in a Wu dialect accent."

"Envoy Zhong, do you think…… this might be the work of some ill‑intentioned persons trying to pull chestnuts from the fire, carrying out a scheme to shift blame and sow discord?"

Zhong Mou's face finally changed.

Wang Po's words, though framed as an inquiry, were in fact a naked accusation!

They placed the suspicion of secret collusion between Southern Tang, Northern Han, and the rebels squarely on the table!

He opened his mouth to explain.

Just then, a hurried and powerful footsteps sounded from outside the hall!

A messenger in imperial guard attire, disregarding etiquette, burst into the hall, dropped to one knee, and raised both hands high holding a military report adorned with a red feather!

"Report——!"

"Urgent victory report from Hebei, six hundred li express! Marshals Han Tong and Zhang Yongde crushed the main rebel force of Liu Yanzuo at Wild Wolf Hollow! They beheaded three rebel generals and annihilated over a thousand enemies! The rebels have retreated thirty li, their courage broken!"

His voice boomed, making the entire front hall buzz!

Wang Pu and Zhang Cheng exchanged a glance, each seeing a trace of calm they had already anticipated.

Zhang Cheng took the military report, glanced at it, and said calmly.

"Understood. Go receive your reward."

"Yes!"

The messenger withdrew.

The hall fell into deadly silence.

Zhong Mo froze in place, all color draining from his face, his fingers trembling slightly.

"Hebei... a great victory?"

"Han Tong and Zhang Yongde actually won? And in that place, Wild Wolf Hollow, they frontally crushed Liu Yanzuo's main force, which had medicated corpse soldiers?"

"How... how is this possible?!"

Wang Pu lifted the already slightly cool teacup, took a gentle sip, as if the earth-shattering victory report just now were merely a trivial matter.

"It seems our troops are still somewhat creditable."

He set down the teacup, his gaze once again falling on Zhong Mo, becoming deep and sharp.

"Envoy Zhong, you just said your sovereign wishes to form an eternal alliance with our dynasty?"

"Then, regarding the Jianghuai-origin military equipment and personnel appearing in the armies of Northern Han and the rebels... should your state give our dynasty a clear explanation?"

"And what about those 'autumn defense drill' Jun Ying stationed on your borders—when will they be able to return to their original garrisons?"

Each word struck like a heavy hammer on Zhong Mo's heart.

Cold sweat trickled down his temples.

The news of the Hebei victory utterly disrupted his plans and shattered Southern Tang's fantasy of profiteering from the chaos.

The Chen dynasty was not only internally stable, but also displayed formidable strength on the foreign battlefield.

If they pressed harder now, it would be nothing short of self-inflicted humiliation, and could even bring catastrophic disaster upon Southern Tang.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, rose to his feet, and gave Wang Pu and Zhang Cheng a deep bow.

"May the two lords see clearly!"

"This matter... this matter must be suspicious! Surely a villain is meddling, intending to sabotage Tang-Chen relations!"

"The foreign minister will immediately draft a memorial to inform my sovereign, demanding a strict investigation into the loss of military equipment!"

"As for the border troops..."

He gritted his teeth.

"The foreign minister guarantees with his life that within three days he will order them all to withdraw to their original defenses, without any delay!"

Wang Pu and Zhang Cheng exchanged a glance.

Zhang Cheng gave a slight nod.

Only then did a genuine smile appear on Wang Pu's face, as he offered a vague support.

"Envoy Zhong truly understands the greater good; he is a blessing to both nations."

"If so, our dynasty will await good news."

Seeing off the dispirited Zhong Mo.

Wang Pu and Zhang Cheng returned to the hall.

"This victory in Hebei comes at just the right time."

Zhang Cheng exhaled lightly.

"For now, the Southern Tang side is stabilized."

Wang Pu walked to the window, gazing at Zhong Mo's hurriedly retreating back, his eyes distant.

"Li Jing is indecisive, Zhong Mo is cautious."

"By leveraging this Hebei victory to threaten, Southern Tang will, in the short term, dare not Northward Aspiration."

"But..."

He paused.

"The true fierce battle in the northern borders has only just begun."

"The pressure on His Majesty's side remains as heavy as a mountain."

Zhang Cheng remained silent for a moment, then spoke firmly.

"His Majesty possesses boundless blessings and the loyalty of the three armies; he will surely overcome the enemy and achieve victory!"

"We need only secure the rear, so His Majesty has no rear worries."

That afternoon, the urgent eight-hundred-li secret letter from Southern Tang envoy Zhong Mo was swiftly sent to Jinling.

In the letter, he detailed the success of the internal purge in the Chen dynasty, the sudden victory on the Hebei front, and the veiled warning from Wang Pu and Zhang Cheng.

He earnestly argued that the Chen dynasty's foundations were gradually solidifying, its combat strength formidable, certainly not a soft persimmon, and begged Sovereign Li Jing to immediately order the border Jun Ying to withdraw, to avoid direct conflict with the Chen dynasty.

Two days later, the Southern Tang border assembled Jun Ying began to withdraw in succession, returning to their respective garrisons.

A potential southern border threat, under the combined effect of the Bian Liang Imperial Court's skillful diplomacy and the timely military victory in Hebei, quietly dissipated.

The Chen dynasty was thus able to devote more energy to the northern border battlefield that decides the fate of the nation.

The era's torrent still surges forward toward its predetermined direction.