Chapter 641

A fine book...

Zhang Zhao had been ready to return to the capital, but the hot potato he had tossed out had thoroughly scalded the Southern Tang court, high and low alike.

Ever since Gao Baoxu had fled to Ezhou with a thousand soldiers of the Nanping army, the debate over how to deal with Gao Baoxu had never ceased.

The Southern Tang's Military Governor of Qinghuai in Shouzhou, Liu Renzhan; the Military Governor of Wuchang in Ezhou, He Jingzhu; the Military Governor of Yong'an in Jianzhou, Wang Chongwen; and others all urged Li Jing not to let the opportunity slip, to seize Jiangling while he could, and then hold the line along the river.

That way, even if all of Huainan were lost, they could still become a Southern Chen, and await Heaven's timing.

Well! One could not say their strategy was wrong; in fact, it was still quite feasible.

The core of this strategy was Jiangling itself. Take Jiangling, prevent the Zhou army from building a powerful navy, avoid fighting the Zhou army on land, and rely on the water forces to construct a defensive line.

Then concentrate resources at Jiangling to support an elite imperial guard protecting the capital region.

Moreover, this was arguably the Southern Tang's only chance, because anyone could see that the moment the Zhou state gained Jiangling, it would immediately possess a water force of considerable strength.

Add to that the moral authority of the Celestial Dynasty and its invincible land cavalry and infantry, and whether the Southern Tang could even survive Li Jing's reign was hard to say.

But doing it this way carried equally great risk. If they could take Jiangling, well and good; but if they failed to take Jiangling, once the Zhou army retaliated, losing all of Huainan would be the best outcome — worse, they might truly see the western capital, Jiangning Prefecture, fall.

Li Jing's heart was likewise deeply torn. In his heart, his loathing for Zhang Zhou exceeded his loathing for anyone else.

Because before Zhang Zhao had sent fifty thousand cavalry and infantry to slap Li Jing across the face, Li Jing had been riding high.

This Tang state he had inherited from his father Li Bian, after the governance of three generations of heroes — Yang Xingmi, Xu Wen, and Li Bian — had a hundred thousand armored soldiers, 1.2 million households, a population of three million, money and grain piled mountain-high, and a navy that swept across the great river; it could not be called weak.

Later he had even won over the Later Jin's Military Governor of Wuning in Xuzhou, Hu Cile, gaining all the lands north of the Huai, and had just crushed the Min kingdom of the Wang clan — the very picture of a rising sun at high noon.

Li Jing himself believed this too, so when word came that Du Chongwei, the Military Governor of Guide in Songzhou, had come over to him, the entire Southern Tang court assumed Li Jing was destined for Heaven's mandate.

They need only defeat that Hexi Zhang Zhao, who mouthed slogans about reviving the Great Tang but was in truth nothing but a barbarian bandit — and the Great Tang would be thoroughly revived in Li Jing's hands.

Regrettably, in the end, the Southern Tang spent a million strings of cash on war, and got in return two crushing defeats at Mengzhu Marsh and Yizheng, losing more than forty thousand soldiers. Even the eastern capital, Jiangdu Prefecture (Yangzhou), was captured, and the western capital, Jiangning, had virtually no troops left to defend it.

Li Jing had taken two great slaps to the face; bruised and battered, he still had to cede the three Huainan prefectures of Chu, Hao, and Si to Zhang Zhao, and the annual tribute extorted from him had saddled the Southern Tang with a crushing economic burden.

In particular, that imperial envoy from the Zhou state a few days ago, who had grabbed him by the sleeve and raged at him — even now, the thought of it made Li Jing want to kill someone.

Yet though the hatred in Li Jing's heart was higher than the mountains and deeper than the sea, whenever he recalled the terror of the last time the Zhou army had reached the great river, he could never bring himself to make the final decision.

But at this critical moment of choice, what was more terrifying than a wrong decision was making no decision at all.

Li Jing told himself he wanted to wipe away past shame and never again be bullied by the Zhou state, yet he could never steel his resolve.

Under this procrastination by the lord of the Southern Tang, undercurrents surged within the Southern Tang realm.

Did Zhang Zhao fear the Southern Tang suddenly intervening at this time? He feared it, but not very much.

The reason he said he did not fear it was that Zhang Zhao had complete confidence in the army under his command.

Since ancient times, no one had ever taken a great city like Jiangling by water forces alone. The Southern Tang army would only cause trouble; it could not possibly capture Jiangling.

The reason he did fear it was that the Nanping navy had not yet been fully digested, and the Southern Tang's Military Governor of Wuchang in Ezhou and Military Governor of Fenghua in Jiangzhou (Jiujiang) both had very strong water forces. The last time Zhang Zhao had not dared to cross the river with his whole army, it was precisely out of worry that these two would cut off his rear.

If they now came upstream, they would pin down a large portion of his forces at Jiangling. Drag on for a few more months, and once the depths of winter arrived, Zhang Zhao would have to withdraw, and the golden opportunity to settle Ma Chu would be lost.

More importantly, if — as in history — the Southern Tang army did not come to Jiangling but instead entered Ma Chu and got mixed up with Ma Xi'e, then there would be real trouble.

Compared with Jiangling, Hunan at this time was even more dense with waterways and swamps; in most places, marching required ferrying by boat. With Southern Tang aid, plus a local power like Ma Xi'e, taking Tanzhou alone would probably take years.

"Where are Zhang Shaodi and the others?" Zhang Zhao summoned Li Xiaojie, the Deputy Commander of the Brocade Guard personal troops specially responsible for Jingnan and Hunan, and asked.

Li Xiaojie said to Zhang Zhao with a grim face, "Not only Zhang Shaodi — all the officers and soldiers who came from Ma Chu have gathered around Ma Xiguang. To my probes and overtures, they have all given evasive answers.

Presumably, their greatest wish is still to return to Tanzhou, drive out Ma Xi'e, and then set up Ma Xiguang as their lord, striving to preserve the Chu state."

Zhang Zhao nodded. "It seems there are still no few mediocrities in the Ma Chu state!

They think that rather than have a forceful Sage like me pressing down on their heads, it is better to support a weak and mediocre lord like Ma Xiguang — at least they can continue to be masters over others in the territory of Chu."

After a brief pause, Zhang Zhao said to Li Fang beside him, "Summon Ma Xiguang. To resolve the Chu problem, we must still start with Ma Xiguang himself."

When Zhang Zhao summoned Ma Xiguang, the man was chanting the name of the Jewel-Born Tathagata.

This is the Buddha of the South among the Five Directional Buddhas of Buddhism, corresponding exactly to the location of Ma Chu. Thus the people of Chu, in their faith, mostly venerated this Southern Buddha of Fortune and Virtue, the Jewel-Born Tathagata.

Historically, when Ma Xiguang was driven to desperation by Ma Xi'e, he had personally donned black robes, gathered the monks, and chanted sutras loudly atop the city walls, hoping the Buddha would aid him in defeating the enemy.

When he was seized by Ma Xi'e and beaten to death, he was still chanting the name of the Jewel-Born Tathagata to the end — a devout Buddhist.

However, the more devoutly he believed in the Buddha, the more distant he became from Zhang Zhao. Do not assume that all Buddhists would be close to Zhang Zhao — quite the opposite.

Because the Six Laws Sect that Zhang Zhao had created, borrowing from the three desert faiths, was doctrinally built on raising the Buddha high above, then using the Supreme Heaven to speak for the mortal world. Therefore, the more versed one was in the Dharma, the more one resisted Zhang Zhao.

Because Zhang Zhao's system merely wore a skin of Buddhism; one layer beneath was the three desert faiths, and at the innermost core was actually a syncretic monotheism blending Chinese Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism.

It was the complete opposite of the current Buddhism, which still carried a strong Indian flavor.

Apart from certain Buddhist communities in Hexi, Anxi, and Qingtang that had ulterior motives or constantly felt threatened by other faiths, very few eminent monks could stand Zhang Zhao, and privately most regarded him as a heretic.

Ma Xiguang was just such a case. Before he understood it deeply, he had been drawn in by Zhang Zhao's identity as the Great Compassion Buddha of Supreme Heaven (Dharma King), but after understanding it, Ma Xiguang immediately no longer wished to be close to Zhang Zhao.

Only, in this matter, Ma Xiguang, who had little capital of his own, had no room to bargain.

He did not wish to be close to Zhang Zhao, but Zhang Zhao wished to be close to him, and so he had no choice but to comply.

The moment he entered, Zhang Zhao came over, took Ma Xiguang by the arm, and said with a somewhat pained air, "Depi! I have heard that your lady, of the Wang clan, and your two sons have met with disaster, and I grieve deeply for them.

I have already ordered the Chancellery to draft an edict posthumously conferring upon Lady Wang the title of Lady of Changsha Commandery, and upon your two sons the offices of Acting Minister of Works and Acting Minister of War respectively. What do you think?"

With his arm held, Ma Xiguang could not perform the full rites, and could only bow slightly. Red-eyed, he looked at Zhang Zhao and said gratefully, "Your subject thanks the Sage for his heavenly grace. To receive a posthumous title of Commandery Lady — my wife, in the nether springs below, can at least close her eyes in peace."

Zhang Zhao patted Ma Xiguang's arm in consolation, then continued, "I have heard that your eldest daughter died young, but your second daughter still lives, and was not harmed by that villain Ma Xi'e.

My fifth son, Zhao Yanjin, lost his wife early. If Depi does not disdain it, the two of us could become in-laws."

Ma Xiguang's second daughter had just turned sixteen, charming and lovely. This time Ma Xiguang had brought her with him to the Eastern Capital and had not left her in Tanzhou, so she had escaped harm.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ma Xiguang said joyfully and hurriedly, "My daughter is ignorant of propriety; I fear she would only demean the Marquis of Baoyi."

Of course he was pleased. Of Zhang Zhao's seven adopted sons, apart from Li Congyi, every one was accomplished in both letters and arms. Zhao Yanjin, though not the equal of Murong Xinzhang and Li Cunhui, at present looked far more promising than Zhe Deyuan and Yang Jiye.

And he now commanded the Flying Tiger Army, Zhang Zhou's navy. Whether in status or ability, he was more than worthy of Ma Xiguang's daughter.

Zhang Zhao was likewise delighted, and was about to say something else when Zhang Lieming beside him quickly interjected, "Has Uncle forgotten one matter?"

Zhang Zhao looked at Zhang Lieming with feigned puzzlement, though in his heart he had long known what the matter was. "What matter? Speak."

Zhang Lieming quickly replied, "Seventeenth Uncle came the day before yesterday and said that Eighth Aunt saw Military Governor Ma's imposing bearing, which much resembles her late husband, and she would like to ask you to help arrange the match."

"Ah!" Zhang Zhao released Ma Xiguang's arm and lightly clapped his hands together.

"How did I nearly forget this matter! Depi! My eighth sister's late husband was once a brave general under my command, and he unfortunately fell in battle.

Now my eighth sister is raising two sons alone. Though she has no devastating beauty, she is frugal and industrious, gentle and virtuous. Would you be willing to become my brother-in-law?"

Ma Xiguang's face instantly turned deathly pale. He was somewhat timid, but he was no fool.

He knew that if he married Zhang Zhao's sister, although it would add one more layer of protection, it would also add one more layer of cage.

A Zhang family daughter married to him midway through life, with two sons besides, would certainly side with the Zhang family whenever a matter of great principle arose. Once he married her, it would be as if Ma Xiguang's every move would be under Zhang Zhao's control.

Moreover, this arrangement, no matter how one looked at it, seemed intended to keep him from returning to Tanzhou to govern — it was meant to swallow up the Chu kingdom.

Ma Xiguang summoned his courage and looked at Zhang Zhao. He had just been about to speak, but his mouth felt unbearably dry, and his throat seemed to have a wad of rags stuck in it. He wanted to say something, but always felt blocked, unable to get the words out.

Zhang Zhao, meanwhile, seized Ma Xiguang's arm again, practically dragging Ma Xiguang — who was more than a full head shorter than him — against his chest.

Zhang Zhao loomed over him from above. The breath from his nostrils struck Ma Xiguang directly in the face, and his hands were like iron pincers, clamping Ma Xiguang so tightly he could not move in the slightest.

"What is it? Is Depi so overjoyed he cannot speak?"

Zhang Zhao spoke slowly, one word at a time, each word seeming to burst out from between his teeth.

Ma Xiguang looked up at Zhang Zhao and suddenly felt that this Sage Son of Heaven, who usually appeared so genial and smiling, had soared up beyond the Ninth Heaven and transformed into a divine dragon, his whole body blazing with golden light, locking him firmly in place.

A sense of extreme danger, as if great calamity were bearing down, pressed upon Ma Xiguang. Every pore on Zhang Zhao's body seemed to radiate the question: "Do you fucking want to be cut in half at the waist, or sliced to death by slow dismemberment?"

In that instant, all of Ma Xiguang's thoughts vanished at once. What Chu kingdom, what throne, what Buddhist heresy — none of it mattered more than staying alive right now.

He could not help but fall to his knees, and tears of "joy" welled up at once. "Your subject only fears his fortune is too meager and his virtue too shallow to be worthy of an imperial noblewoman."

"Ha ha ha ha!" Zhang Zhao laughed heartily, released Ma Xiguang's wrist, and even gave his shoulder an approving pat as he did so.

"King Wumu of Chu rose from a carpenter to hold thirteen prefectures — he fully deserves to be called a hero.

Now that my younger brother Depi shows such understanding of the greater picture, how could he be of meager fortune and shallow virtue? We shall at once confer upon my eighth sister the title of Princess of Yutan, and bestow upon my younger brother the ceremonial treatment of a Commandant-escort."

Yutan was the northern gateway of Tanzhou — the area around present-day Yutan Town in Ningxiang County, Changsha — and held a position of considerable importance in Ma Chu.

Conferring upon Eighth Sister the title of Princess of Yutan, and granting Ma Xiguang the treatment of a Commandant-escort equal to that of an imperial princess's consort, was giving him a great deal of face.

Matters having reached this point, and Ma Xiguang being timid by nature, he simply went along with it.

Zhang Zhao then immediately had him summon the Ma Chu commanders Zhang Shaodi, Liu Yantao, Li Yanwen, and the others to come.

Before long, Zhang Shaodi, Liu Yantao, Li Yanwen, and the rest arrived at Zhang Zhao's traveling palace in response to the summons.

Unlike the previous occasions when Zhang Zhao had sent people to recruit them and they had refused to take the bait, this time the Ma Chu commanders actually performed the full kowtow ceremony due at a first audience with a sovereign, with perfect propriety.

Zhang Zhao returned a perfunctory bow, then looked at the assembled Ma Chu commanders and shouted sternly.

"We sent men to soothe and comfort you, and you received them in silence. Now We order Ma Depi to summon you, and how swiftly you arrive!

Is this Chu province not a vassal of the Celestial Court? Is this Son of Heaven of the Central Plains not your lord and sovereign?"

Er — Ma Xiguang's courtesy name was Depi. This was also the first time Zhang Zhao had addressed him this way, and he suddenly realized that Depi was a fine name, but for someone surnamed Ma, it seemed rather inappropriate, didn't it?

Seeing the Emperor fly into a rage, Liu Yantao, Li Yanwen, and the other commanders were so frightened they prostrated themselves on the ground, stammering and not daring to speak.

Only Zhang Shaodi's expression remained as usual. He looked at Zhang Zhao and asked, "May I ask how the Sage intends to settle the Heir King?"

By "the Heir King," Zhang Shaodi of course meant Ma Xiguang, because Zhang Zhao had not yet formally invested Ma Xiguang as King of Chu. He merely had the qualification to succeed to the Chu throne, but was not yet King of Chu, so he could only be addressed this way.

Zhang Zhao answered flatly, "We have already become in-laws with Depi, and have even married an imperial noblewoman down to him. From now on, we shall be one family."

Zhang Shaodi, however, would not let it go. "This wild man of an outer province presumes to ask the Son of Heaven: will the Heir King henceforth garrison Tanzhou, or will he remain at the Son of Heaven's side?"

Interesting. Zhang Zhao glanced at this fellow named Shaodi — already past forty, and reputed to be a pillar of Ma Chu — and, not intending to conceal anything, said in a deep voice, "Since we are one family, of course he should always remain by Our side."

Having said this, Zhang Zhao was already prepared for Zhang Shaodi and the others to be uncooperative. There were some people in this world who were simply single-minded — knowing full well that a great tide could not be blocked, yet still trying to stop a chariot with a mantis's arm.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing Zhang Zhao say this, Zhang Shaodi suddenly prostrated himself on the ground and declared, "Your subject Zhang Shaodi kowtows to the Sage Son of Heaven."

This move completely baffled Zhang Zhao. He looked at Zhang Shaodi, prostrate on the ground, and asked, "You refused to pay respects before — why do you kowtow now?"

Zhang Shaodi raised his head and said loudly, "Your subject did not come to court before because we are subjects of the Chu province. How could there be any principle in bypassing the provincial king to pay court to the Son of Heaven?

Now that Your Majesty has clearly decided to take the Chu province back into the realm, once there is no Chu province, we subjects will be subjects of the Son of Heaven, and so of course we must come to pay our respects.

Moreover, we have been supported by the people of the Chu lands for decades, across two generations. If Your Majesty only intended to send the Heir King back, this subject would still have had to advise the Sage not to dispatch a great army, lest the common people be plunged into misery.

Because Ma Xi'e's power in Chu is already established, and he has no intention of returning the province to the realm — he cannot be moved lightly. Now that the Sage has decided to follow the precedent of Nanping, we subjects dare to serve the court."

Zhang Zhao was stunned. Wasn't it said that the Five Dynasties had few loyal ministers, and even fewer renowned ones? How was it that when it came to himself — good heavens — every place was full of loyal and righteous men?

Those in the know understood this was the Five Dynasties; those who didn't would think this was the late Han and Three Kingdoms, or the late Sui when heroes rose together.

Very well! Under Sage Zhang's banner of loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness, yet another far-sighted renowned minister had appeared.

So Zhang Zhao hurriedly helped Zhang Shaodi up with a face full of wild delight, and ignoring the awkwardness of Ma Xiguang at his side, praised him loudly.

"We had thought that the Chu province, lying in the far south, could not compare with the Central Plains in men of loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness. We did not expect to find great talents such as you. When the rebel Ma Xi'e is put down in the days to come, We shall surely put you to important use."

Zhang Shaodi also played along with Zhang Zhao. He said with emotion, "Xi'e is cruel and violent; his plundering of Tanzhou is an outrage against heaven and reason. We subjects long for the court's heavenly troops as a babe longs for its parents.

Now that I have seen the Sage, I understand the benevolence and virtue of the Sage Son of Heaven. I beg to serve as vanguard, to pacify the Chu lands for the Sage."

Zhang Zhao immediately asked, "What plan do you propose?"

But before Zhang Shaodi could answer, Zhang Cheng came in from outside to report that a Ma Chu envoy, Peng Shisong, had arrived.

Zhang Shaodi was overjoyed. "I congratulate the Sage! Peng Shisong comes from the Peng family, chieftains of the Chen and Xi native tribes. His temperament is eccentric, but he is loyal, honest, and mindful of favors.

He has long garrisoned Tanzhou and has considerable renown. The Peng family he comes from is also a powerful clan of the Xi cave tribes in the Chu lands.

If the Sage gains Peng Shisong's allegiance, not only will Tanzhou fall within days, but you can also use the opportunity to pacify the native tribes west of Huxiang. Thus the Chu lands will return to the state!"