Chapter 420

Just as Chen Wen and Shi Dun were secretly sowing thistles in the south of the False Song, another smokeless contest in Chen's northern frontier had entered a critical stage.

Youzhou, the northern frontier headquarters rebuilt from the governor's residence.

The atmosphere was heavy, like leaden clouds before a blizzard.

The Khitan envoy, a noble of the imperial clan named Yelü Xiezhen, wore a brocade robe, his chin slightly raised, his eyes bearing the haughty scrutiny of a steppe eagle.

He again pushed the copy of the sternly worded state letter toward the Northeastern Frontier Commander, who was also a veteran general of the Chen dynasty, Han Tong (not the same Han Tong who had died for the nation).

"Commander Han,"

Yelü Xiezhen's Chinese was thickly accented, yet each word was clear, carrying an undeniable pressure.

"The will of my lord, the Empress Dowager who bears Heaven (Empress Dowager Xiao), has been expressed quite clearly."

"Last year's wind and snow brought disaster; the tribes of the steppe struggle to survive, countless cattle and sheep frozen to death."

"In the past, the tea-horse-salt-iron trade with Zhongyuan must increase by thirty percent, prices must drop by twenty percent, and three new trade offices north of Yunzhou must be opened, to be operated exclusively by our Great Liao."

"Furthermore, the troops your state stations in the three forts north of the Juma River must withdraw fifty li, to avoid causing misunderstanding and disturbing our border herders."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on the ashen-faced Han Tong.

"This is the cornerstone of peace between our two nations, and also the Empress Dowager's mercy, unwilling to see the sight of war again."

"I hope Commander Han will decide swiftly and report to your emperor; I await good news here."

Han Tong's fingers whitened slightly from gripping the copy of the state letter.

What negotiation is this? It's clearly taking advantage of a fire to rob!

Increasing trade volume while lowering prices is already cutting flesh; opening exclusive trade offices hands over the lifeblood of the border economy; as for withdrawing border outposts, it is outright territorial demand!

He suppressed his anger and spoke in a low voice.

"The terms you envoy speak of are of great importance; I cannot decide them myself. I have sent an urgent eight-hundred-li report to the Imperial Court, asking the emperor for a supreme ruling."

Yelü Xiezhen snorted.

"Supreme ruling? Commander Han, sensible people don't speak in riddles."

"Your new ruler has been on the throne only a few years, and last year suffered a natural disaster; your national strength has not yet recovered."

"If the northern frontier were to flare up again now, I fear… it would not be what your state wishes."

"The Empress Dowager's patience is limited; I hope your state… will know the times and act accordingly."

Having said that, he flicked his sleeve, rose, and left with his attendants, leaving the hall filled with suppressed anger and humiliation.

The news returned to Bianjing, and the Imperial Court immediately erupted.

The pro-peace faction believed that Chen needed time to rest and recuperate, and should not lightly provoke war with such a strong neighbor as the Khitan; appropriate concessions could be made to secure peace.

The pro-war faction spoke passionately, believing the Khitan were bullying too much; if we retreated this time, they would surely press further, and the state would not survive; they advocated mobilizing troops and standing ready.

The young new emperor Chen Hong sat upright on the dragon throne, listening to the fierce debate below, his composure calm, showing no joy or anger.

Only the fingers slightly curled within his sleeve betrayed his inner unrest.

He knew this was not only a matter of the northern frontier's safety, but also a great test of his prestige and resolve as a new ruler.

Retreat, and the state's prestige would suffer, the people's hearts would scatter;

War, and the state's strength would be drained, the risks unknowable.

After the Imperial Court, Chen Hong immediately summoned Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru.

In the secret study, Chen Hong set aside the emperor's dignity, his brow showing a hint of fatigue and inquiry.

"Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, regarding the northern frontier affair, what do you two think should be done?"

"Yelü Xiezhen is pressing hard, opinions in the Imperial Court are divided, and I… find it hard to decide."

Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru exchanged a glance, with Zhang Cheng speaking first.

"Your Majesty, the Khitan's move appears tough, but is actually also a probe."

"To probe our new dynasty's bottom line, to probe Your Majesty's resolve."

"Empress Dowager Xiao is a formidable leader, certainly not reckless. The severe white disaster on the steppe last year is true, but her domestic situation is not monolithic; a large-scale southern invasion now would also carry great risk."

"What they seek is more about concrete gains than immediately launching full-scale war."

Wang Ru answered, her tone calm.

"What Zhang Cheng said is absolutely correct."

"If we now show weakness and retreat, the Khitan will taste blood and want more; thereafter the border will never know peace."

"But if we overreact, immediately massing troops to press the border, we would merely give them a handle, providing the Khitan's internal war faction with a pretext, pushing the probe into genuine conflict."

Chen Hong seemed lost in thought.

"You two mean… we cannot retreat, nor should we immediately adopt a full hard line?"

"Exactly."

Zhang Cheng nodded.

"I, Wang Ru, and General Shi (Shi Dun) previously discussed the northern frontier situation."

"General Shi believes the key is to 'demonstrate strength to deter.'"

"We can order Han Tong's forces in the northern frontier to immediately enter war readiness, frequently mobilize troops, and conduct grand drills to display our army's disciplined combat power and resolve for a decisive battle."

"At the same time, Your Majesty could issue a clear edict, rebuking the Khitan for groundless extortion, violating the treaty, and declaring our dynasty's firm stance in defending the territory and protecting the people, with wording that must be stern."

"But in concrete actions, for now we will not cross the border to provoke, nor launch attacks."

"Thus we both show our resolve not to fear war, blunt their edge, and retain room for maneuver, preventing the situation from spiraling out of control instantly."

"Empress Dowager Xiao is a wise person; seeing our full preparation and firm resolve, and with the False Song to the south neutralized (they are unaware of Chen Wen's interference), she will weigh the pros and cons and likely choose to call it quits or lower her demands."

A gleam gradually brightened in Chen Hong's eyes.

Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru's strategy, combined with Shi Dun's military judgment, offered a more operable choice lying between pure retreat and direct war.

This requires great composure and a precise grasp of the situation.

"Good!"

Chen Hong slapped the imperial desk, rose to his feet, and the decisiveness of an emperor returned to his face.

"Let's follow this plan!"

"Minister Zhang, draft this edict immediately; I will personally polish it, striving for every word to weigh a thousand jin!"

"Minister Wang, convey my secret order to Han Tong; act according to the plan; the armies of the Northern Frontier, show me the might of tigers and wolves!"

"Subject, I obey the edict!"

Over the next few days, the atmosphere in the Northern Frontier suddenly grew tense.

The border troops of the Chen dynasty were frequently mobilized, and large-scale field exercises were staged in turn at various passes and strategic routes.

Banners blotted out the sun, war drums shook the heavens, cavalry cried out, infantry stood like a forest.

Such a stern military bearing and high morale could not be possessed by any timid army.

At the same time, Chen Hong issued a strongly worded edict, citing the classics to condemn the Khitan's betrayal and lack of righteousness; it was also published in the court bulletin and swiftly spread throughout court and society, and without a doubt, placed on Empress Dowager Xiao's desk via various channels.

Yelü Xiezhen still came daily to the field headquarters to urge, but his attitude was noticeably less arrogant than before.

Han Tong strictly followed the court's orders, his attitude neither humble nor overbearing; he firmly rejected unreasonable demands and never provoked, merely asking Yelü Xiezhen each day to "observe" the drills of the great army outside the city.

The news was transmitted back to the Khitan's upper capital.

Empress Dowager Xiao (Xiao Chuo) gazed at the detailed military intelligence from the south and the Chen dynasty's "proclamation against the Khitan," pondering for a long time.

She was indeed probing, and indeed needed supplies from the Southern dynasty to ease domestic pressure.

But the Chen dynasty's new ruler's firm response and the combat power displayed by the northern border troops took her somewhat by surprise.

"This young emperor actually has some grit."

She said softly.

"Although the Southern dynasty has suffered natural disasters, its foundations remain intact, and its army's morale is usable."

"If we now force a southern advance, even if we could win, it would surely be a pyrrhic victory, lest others take advantage (referring to other tribes on the steppes or the Western Xia)."

After repeated deliberation, she finally made a decision.

Ten days later, Yelü Xiezhen received new orders from the homeland.

He again came to the Northern Frontier field headquarters, and the arrogance on his face had diminished considerably.

"Minister Han,"

He clasped his hands in greeting, his tone softened.

"Our sovereign, the Empress Dowager who bears heaven, cherishes the relations between our two countries, pities the people's hardships, and wishes to make a slight concession."

"The additional trade volume can be reduced to one and a half tenths, and the price need only be lowered by half. The matter of newly opening markets can be discussed later."

"As for the withdrawal of troops... that can also be temporarily postponed."

"The Empress Dowager hopes that your country can feel our sincerity, promptly restore border trade, to relieve the urgent need of the herdsmen."

Han Tong let out a long sigh of relief in his heart, knowing that the court's strategy had succeeded.

His face showed no change, and he spoke in a low voice.

"Since your Empress Dowager shows sincerity, our dynasty will naturally reciprocate with sincerity."

"The specific terms require this official to again report to the Emperor for a final decision."

"But the matter of restoring border trade can first be negotiated."

A Northern Frontier crisis that seemed on the verge of eruption eased temporarily after the Chen dynasty displayed sufficient strength and resolve.

The news returned to Bianjing, court and populace were invigorated, and Chen Hong's prestige invisibly rose greatly.

Yet the hidden hands behind all this, the guardians concealed in the shadows of history, knew this was merely a respite.

The contest with the Khitan, the struggle against the False Song and the Iron Crow Army, is far from over.

The beacon fires on the northern front have temporarily died down, but the thorns in the south continue to grow silently.