Chapter 292

The news that Northern Han had submitted as a vassal.

Like having wings, it crossed the Taihang Mountains, swept through the Youyun lands, accompanied by the late‑spring wind.

All the way north, it blew into the Khitan's royal court.

By the Huang River banks, the steppe sprouted new green, cattle and sheep like clouds.

However, in the heart of the ruler of this vast expanse, a shadow from the south loomed.

Khitan Emperor Yelü Jing

This ruler, known in later histories as the 'Sleeping King'.

At this moment he was not, as usual, indulging in drink and hunt, but instead rarely summoned the Southern and Northern Kings, Yu Yue, and the core nobles.

Inside that great felt tent, a solemn discussion was taking place.

The tent was filled with the aroma of kumis and roasted meat, yet no one had the heart to enjoy it.

Everyone's gaze focused on the Southern King Yelü Tàliè, who had just raced back from Nanjing (Youzhou) on a whipped horse.

He was dust‑weary, his face still bearing fatigue and a hint of alarm that could not be concealed.

"Your Majesty, lords,"

Yelü Tàliè's voice was a little hoarse; he took a deep breath and began his report.

"The south… has changed."

He detailed the outcome of the Battle of Jinzhou and the ensuing chain of events.

"…… Murong Yanchao died in battle, and Liu Jun's hundred‑thousand‑strong army was reduced to ashes."

"That Chen Wen… personally took the field; it is said he possesses unfathomable supernatural ability, his troops extraordinarily brave, nothing like the former Zhongyuan armies."

"Now Northern Han has abandoned its imperial title, ceded land and submitted; Shi Dun's army is stationed at the border, eyeing Taiyuan."

"The states of Southern Tang, Wu Yue, Jingnan and others have all sent envoys to Bian Liang to acknowledge its calendar."

"Zhongyuan… has now seen the rise of an unprecedented power."

The tent fell into dead silence.

Only the crackling of burning tallow torches and the faint whinny of horses from outside could be heard.

Several stern elders frowned, while the younger nobles showed discontent, yet also a hint of doubt.

"Tàliè, have you seen Chen Wen with your own eyes? Is he really that formidable?"

A princely relative clad in a splendid leopard‑skin robe could not help but speak, his tone doubtful.

"Could it be that the southerners are exaggerating to sow discord in our army?"

Yelü Tàliè gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"Although I have not personally seen Chen Wen, I have visited the Jinzhou battlefield."

"Corpses littered the fields, scorched earth stretched for thousands of li—far beyond what an ordinary battle could produce."

"The scattered Northern Han troops who fled back still tremble at the mention of the Chen army—no pretense."

He paused, his voice sinking a little lower.

"Moreover, our spies in Bian Liang report that Southern Tang's Zhong Mou and Wu Yue's Qian Hongyi, among others, have all bowed their heads."

"If it were not for the undoubted strength of the Chen dynasty, how could these slippery southern rulers submit so readily?"

These words plunged the tent into silence once again.

The attitudes of Southern Tang and Wu Yue, from the side, confirmed the Chen dynasty's dominance.

"Your Majesty,"

The Northern King Yelü Wuzhi spoke slowly; he was older, experienced, a senior minister of the Khitan.

"In my humble view, this matter must be handled cautiously. Zhongyuan has suddenly grown strong; its military prowess may surpass former days. Though our Khitan warriors fear no battle, to clash head‑on now would be unwise."

He glanced at Yelü Tàliè.

"Tàliè suffered a fresh defeat in Hebei, losing troops and generals, morale low. If we raise a large army to march south now, what are our chances of victory?"

"Even if we won, how many of our Khitan youths would we lose? Moreover, Chen Wen's tactics are strange; if he were to employ some sorcery…"

The two words 'sorcery' made many faces in the tent twitch.

Rumors on the Jinzhou battlefield about the Chen army's uncanny abilities and the Fortune Momentum's Huang Guang had long spread via various channels to the steppe, acquiring a mysterious and terrifying hue.

"Are we to let the southerners grow unchecked?"

Another fiery‑tempered general leapt to his feet; he was a cousin of Emperor Yelü Jing and had always advocated war.

"Our Khitan cavalry is invincible under heaven! How can we shrink back after a temporary setback? We should seize the moment while they are unsteady, ally with the remnants of Northern Han, also summon the Tangut tribes, and march south together to crush Bian Liang in one fell swoop!"

"Nonsense!"

Yelü Wuzhi shouted in a stern voice.

"Northern Han has submitted—what remnants are there to ally with? The Tangut are wolf‑hearted, vacillating; they would never sincerely help us. Now the Chen dynasty's momentum is high, our army newly defeated; to force a war would be like throwing eggs at stones."

"Then what do you propose? Are you asking me to have Great Liao submit and pay tribute to that Chen surname?" the war‑hungry general glared.

"Not submission!"

Yelü Wuzhi said in a deep voice.

"It is merely to temporarily avoid the sharp edge, to lie in wait for an opportunity!"

He turned to the emperor Yelü Jing, who had remained silent, his gaze somewhat unfocused.

"Your Majesty, the new ruler of Zhongyuan has just taken hold, his vigor at its peak. He will first settle internal affairs and pacify the four directions. Our Great Liao's present policy should be to retract the borders, guard the passes, and cease all provocations."

"At the same time, send envoys to Bian Liang to show weakness, congratulate its establishment, and probe its realities."

"Our steppe youths need time to rest and recuperate, to revive their strength, to train and feed the horses."

"When his vigor wanes, or internal strife arises, or renewed discord with the southern states occurs, that will be the good opportunity for our Great Liao to march south again!"

"This is the way of seasoned statesmanship; I hope Your Majesty will see clearly!"

Yelü Taliè also chimed in:

"Your Majesty, King Wuzhi's words are absolutely correct. Although Chen Wen is strong, the foundations of Zhongyuan are not yet stable; a hundred neglected affairs await revival. Time is on our side. To contend with him now would be more loss than gain."

The war faction still wanted to argue, but seeing Emperor Yelü Jing's obvious reluctance to hear more, and the expressions of agreement with Yelü Wuzhi on most nobles' faces, they could only sit down resentfully.

Yelü Jing yawned, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and seemed bored with the debate.

He waved his hand lazily and said:

"Then let's follow King Wuzhi's advice."

"Put the southern matters aside for now."

"Issue the orders: restrict the various Wuluoduo tribes, forbid their people from heading south to graze horses or plunder."

"As for sending envoys… you handle it as you see fit."

"I am tired."

After saying that, he actually stopped paying attention to everyone in the tent, leaned back on the throne piled with thick animal hides, closed his eyes, and soon began to snore lightly.

The officials inside the tent looked at each other, then helplessly shook their heads, bowed, and withdrew from the golden tent.

The Khitan war machine, under Emperor Yelü Jing's drowsiness and the senior officials' pragmatic considerations, chose to temporarily retract its sharp claws.

Orders issued one after another from the royal court, sent to the southern border.

The Khitan cavalry, which had been active in the border regions and occasionally went south on 'grass‑valley' raids, seemed to have vanished overnight.

Youzhou, Yunzhou and other border strongholds also visibly reinforced their defenses, adopting a posture of strict readiness.

At the same time, a small Khitan delegation carrying steppe specialties as gifts also set out quietly from the royal court, heading toward Bian Liang.

Their orders were to 'congratulate the founding of the Chen dynasty'; their wording must be cautious, their attitude deferent, with a single core purpose—to observe and buy time.

The news was transmitted back to Bian Liang.

Inside the Secretariat, Qian Gui presented the confidential report on Khitan movements to Chen Wen.

"Your Majesty, the Khitan have withdrawn their forces; the border is temporarily quiet. Their envoy delegation is already on the road."

Chen Wen gazed at the expansive north on the map, his eyes deep.

Yelü Jing's choice to lie low was within his expectations.

The Khitan were not incapable of further war; rather, the outcome of the Battle of Jinzhou and the swift surrender of Northern Han made them realize that this newborn Chen dynasty was utterly different from the previous Central Plains regimes plagued by constant internal strife.

A head‑on clash would exact too great a cost.

"The Sleepy King may be muddled, but his subordinates King Wuzhi and Yelü Taliè, among others, are clear‑headed."

They chose the strategy most in line with Khitan's current interests.

"It seems we have won a precious stretch of time."

Chen Wen said softly.

This time is enough for him to more calmly administer domestic affairs, digest Hebei, develop the Ministry of Works' technology, and even… go in search of the truth hidden beneath the historical mist.

Yet he felt no relaxation at all.

A beast in hiding is often more dangerous than when it bares its fangs and brandishes its claws.

The Khitan's retreat is temporary; they are accumulating strength, waiting for the opportunity.

And he himself must, during this precious time, make Great Chen stronger, strong enough that even if the Khitan recover their vigor, they would not dare to easily look south.

His internal Fortune Momentum, as the external environment further eased, flowed more smoothly and freely.

That aura representing the dynasty's foundation seemed to resonate with this brief peace, becoming more substantial and weighty.

"Tell Shi Dun to maintain deterrence on the northern front, but there's no need to provoke actively."

"Order Li Hong to tighten the integration of Hebei defenses, train troops and prepare equipment, and not to be lax."

"The Khitan envoy has arrived; receive them according to custom."

Chen Wen issued the order.

"I will obey your edict." Qian Gui bowed and accepted the command.

Chen Wen walked to the window and gazed toward the boundless northern sky.

The Khitan have lain dormant.

But the northern threat has never truly disappeared.

He and Yelü Jing, and the wolf packs on that vast grassland, are destined to have another fated showdown.

But that will only come much later, after he has forged his internal affairs into a monolithic unity, and after he possesses absolute power sufficient to sweep away everything.

Now, he needs to focus on the present.