Chapter 104 "In my opinion, these past few years have not been a time for the Great Zhou to wage war..."
More than an hour later, the emperor and his ministers returned one after another. Emperor Xianping had hunted the rarest white fox, as well as several wolves and deer.
The white fox was still alive. Emperor Xianping ordered it to be locked in a cage and specially displayed to the empress, concubines, and other female relatives.
Consort Li was the first to stand up. She first admired the white fox in the cage with curiosity, then looked at Emperor Xianping with adoration and praised him lavishly. Emperor Xianping smiled at Consort Li, then quickly turned his gaze to Empress Xie. The man's meaning was so clear, so Empress Xie also gave him a brief compliment, while silently scrutinizing Emperor Xianping from head to toe, as if checking her emperor husband for any injuries.
Emperor Xianping was very pleased.
Consort Li gritted her teeth secretly, then smiled and looked at the Crown Prince behind Emperor Xianping: "Your Majesty has returned with a full haul. How was your harvest today, Crown Prince?"
The prince calmly replied, "I hunted a wolf."
The emperor still wanted to see his archery skills, so when they encountered the wolf, he ordered him to try. The crown prince then drew his bow and arrow.
Consort Li looked surprised, but then kindly tried to cover for the Crown Prince, saying, "The Crown Prince is still young. It's already quite impressive that he managed to hunt a wolf, such a ferocious beast, on his first hunt..."
The Crown Prince disdained to respond to Consort Li's hypocrisy. Emperor Xianping liked Consort Li's face but disliked her affectation. He interrupted Consort Li, saying, "The Crown Prince has always been by my side protecting me and has never gone hunting."
Consort Li: "..."
Thank goodness Mother didn't listen to her and make arrangements for my two brothers. They certainly wouldn't dare to do anything in front of the Emperor. So rather than letting them know her ruthlessness for nothing, it's better that nothing happened as it is now.
"Please take your seats," Emperor Xianping said casually, accompanying Empress Xie to the main seat.
After the hunt came a banquet, during which courtesans would sometimes perform dances, and literary officials and talented scholars would sometimes compose poems praising Emperor Xianping's achievements. Among them was Yan Zhuang, a scholar who had not been favored by the former Left Chancellor Yang Sheng but was highly regarded by Emperor Xianping. In Yang Sheng's words, Yan Zhuang had only flowery language but no real talent for governing the country. Whether the old chancellor was right or not was unknown to others, but seven or eight years later, Yan Zhuang had become a Tongshi Sheren in the Zhongshu Sheng (Secretariat), an official position of only the sixth rank, but the Tongshi Sheren was responsible for conveying imperial edicts and was a close minister of the emperor.
Whenever there was a banquet, it was Yan Zhuang's turn to shine. While Luo Fu was tasting a dish, Yan Zhuang casually presented a poem praising Emperor Xianping's heroic hunting performance at the hunting grounds that day.
Luo Fu glanced at the Emperor and Empress and saw that Emperor Xianping was listening intently to several civil officials' appreciation of Yan Zhuang's poem, while Empress Xie smiled faintly beside him, not as beautifully as when she won money at the card table.
"Mother, is this poem good?" Cheng'er asked, looking up.
Luo Fu laughed and said, "Okay, but I won't explain exactly how good it is. Ask your father when we get back."
Luo Fu had no interest in appreciating Yan Zhuang's poems, which were specifically designed to flatter the emperor. She only remembered Empress Xie's comments on Yan Zhuang and his ilk, saying that their poems and songs were overly ornate and contrived, and that they were vulgar to read.
Halfway through the banquet, a high-ranking official from the Imperial Secretariat, who was stationed in the capital, suddenly arrived. He cheerfully took out an official document from his sleeve and loudly proclaimed to Emperor Xianping, “Your Majesty, a document from Li Chong, the General of Ji Province, states that the Donghu Khan has passed away. The Right General of Donghu, Tuoba Lin, fearing the wrath of his nephew, the new Khan Tuoba Ying, has led ten thousand cavalry and his people to seek refuge with us. He says that if Your Majesty is willing to accept them, provide them with shelter and food, Tuoba Lin and his men will serve as vanguard when Your Majesty conquers Yin again. Tuoba Lin also says that if Your Majesty, after occupying Liao Province, is willing to send troops to help him overthrow Tuoba Ying and become the new Donghu Khan, Tuoba Lin will lead all the Donghu tribes to submit to the Great Zhou and never again invade the Great Zhou’s borders.”
These words immediately sparked discussion among the civil and military officials present.
Emperor Xianping took the official document, read it carefully, and said with a smile to the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, "Let's take our seats first. After we finish eating, I will discuss this matter with you all."
After the banquet, the women went back to rest first, while Emperor Xianping summoned all the accompanying civil and military officials to the main hall of the temporary palace for a small court assembly.
Unfolding Li Chong's official document again, Emperor Xianping said, "Tuoba Lin and his ten thousand cavalry and clansmen are still waiting for my reply outside the Great Wall. Tell me, should I accept them, or what?"
Left Chancellor Xue Chang and Right Chancellor Liu Baoxiu stood at the front. Both were over sixty years old, especially Xue Chang, who had already resigned once due to illness. Emperor Xianping had granted his request, allowing him to return after recovering. This was an honor bestowed upon his ministers by the emperor, so Xue Chang had no choice but to continue to oversee the Secretariat, despite his frail and elderly body that was frequently ailing.
Xue Chang spoke first, saying, “Tuoba Lin is the old Khan’s younger brother, born of the same mother. He is a skilled warrior and highly respected among the Donghu. It is understandable that the new Khan is wary of him after taking office. Tuoba Lin, unable to defeat his nephew, can only flee elsewhere for protection. At the same time, the Yin Emperor married his daughter to the new Khan of the Donghu in his early years. He is focused on forming an alliance with the Donghu to resist our Great Zhou and would not accept Tuoba Lin. The Western Hu have been weaker than the Eastern Hu in recent years, concentrating their efforts on competing for territory with the Western Regions. They would not openly offend the Donghu for Tuoba Lin’s ten thousand cavalry. Therefore, Tuoba Lin can only seek the protection of the Great Zhou. Thus, I believe that Tuoba Lin’s request for help is genuine. However, once the Great Zhou accepts Tuoba Lin, it will be an open act of hostility towards the Donghu. When the Great Zhou attacks Yin in the future, the Donghu will most likely send more troops to assist the Yin state.”
Emperor Xianping nodded and looked at the others.
Liu Baoxiu said, "I believe that regardless of whether Your Majesty accepts Tuoba Lin or not, the Donghu will always be an ally of the Yin Kingdom and will never sit idly by while the Great Zhou attacks the Yin Kingdom. In that case, Your Majesty should accept Tuoba Lin, so that our Great Zhou can gain 10,000 elite cavalry. Moreover, Tuoba Lin is familiar with the grasslands and can help the Great Zhou to march north and attack the Donghu in the future."
On the military side, Liang Bizheng, the 65-year-old commander of the Southern Camp and Marquis of Pingnan, was the first to speak: "What the Right Chancellor said is true. The Donghu have long regarded Liaozhou as a piece of meat in their mouths. They cannot watch the Great Zhou swallow Liaozhou. Since we are going to fight the Donghu anyway, we might as well take away Tuoba Lin's 10,000 cavalry first and let them fight like dogs in the future."
Li Wei, the Duke of Dingguo and commander of the Eastern Camp, frowned and said, “I am afraid there is a trap involved. Our dynasty’s North-South Grand Canal started construction five years ago. Emperor Yin must have received the news long ago and could guess that the opening of the canal would facilitate our transport of grain. Emperor Yin is cunning and may very well have persuaded the new Khan of Donghu and Tuoba Lin to pretend to be divided, and then send Tuoba Lin to the Great Zhou as an inside agent.”
The 71-year-old Duke of England, Gao Kun, nodded: "The Hu people don't have that many tricks up their sleeves, but with Emperor Yin as their strategist, Your Majesty has to be wary."
Liang Bizheng: "According to you, just because Tuoba Lin might be a spy, we're going to leave Tuoba Lin's troops out there and ignore them? What if they aren't spies? Wouldn't we be losing 10,000 cavalry for nothing?"
After years of being obedient, King Qi finally had a chance to show off. He sneered, "So what if we lose ten thousand cavalry? Does that mean we have no chance of conquering Yin without Tuoba Lin?"
Although he had considered competing with his fourth brother for the crown prince position, and was not entirely convinced of his defeat, the campaign against the Yin Kingdom was both his father's and his own long-cherished wish. King Qi had been looking forward to this day for more than a decade. As long as his fourth brother, who had become emperor, trusted him, King Qi was willing to serve as his vanguard and was determined to conquer Liaozhou.
Liang Bizheng glared at the King of Qi and said, "This is not just about attacking Yin, but more importantly, it is about the relationship between the Great Zhou and the Donghu. If we accept Tuoba Lin and help him become the new Khan of the Donghu in the future, the Tuoba Lin lineage will definitely treat the Great Zhou as their father. In this way, the border can be peaceful for at least twenty or thirty years. Isn't this better than the Donghu sending troops to harass the northern border of our Great Zhou every year?"
King Qi crossed his arms and looked up in disdain: "I won't argue with you, I'll listen to the Emperor."
Emperor Xianping: "..."
He continued to look at the civil officials behind the two prime ministers.
Qi Chengfu, the Minister of War, was the most senior among the six ministers and was in charge of the nation's military affairs. He met Emperor Xianping's gaze and said, "I believe that if Tuoba Lin sincerely comes to surrender to our Great Zhou, Your Majesty's decision to reject him simply because of suspicion might indeed miss a golden opportunity to support Tuoba Lin in controlling the Donghu. Therefore, I agree with Your Majesty's decision to accept Tuoba Lin, but Tuoba Lin and his entourage should be settled west of Liangzhou. They need not participate in the Great Zhou's campaign against Yin. In this way, Tuoba Lin is not a spy sent by Yin or Donghu. He can wait peacefully in Liangzhou for us to help him seize power from Donghu. If he is indeed a spy, being far away in Liangzhou, he will not be able to find out our marching route against Yin, nor will he be able to provide timely support to Donghu and Yin."
Upon hearing this, the two prime ministers and other civil officials, as well as military generals like Li Wei, all praised it, believing it to be a win-win solution.
With so many people nodding, Xiao Yu, the only one who didn't, stood out. Emperor Xianping then asked him, "Yuanzhi, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
Everyone looked at Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu, accustomed to such stares, stepped forward and said, “I believe that although the North-South Grand Canal is nearing completion and will be navigable soon, these next few years are not the best time for the Great Zhou to attack the Yin. If Your Majesty accepts Tuoba Lin, it will make it legitimate for the new Khan of the Donghu to march south and attack our Great Zhou. Even if the new Khan has no such intention, the Yin Emperor will sow discord. Once the Donghu mobilizes a large army to march south, although the Great Zhou can resist, the Yin state will reap the benefits. Therefore, I suggest that Your Majesty send Tuoba Lin a batch of grain as a token of goodwill, and then persuade him to join the Xihu. The Xihu often harbor ambitions to rival the Donghu. As long as Tuoba Lin explains that the Donghu Khan is prepared to assist the Yin state in resisting the Great Zhou and dares not divide his forces with the Xihu, the Xihu will surely take in Tuoba Lin. Tuoba Lin and his people will also be more adapted to life on the Xihu grasslands and will not have to force themselves to live in our dynasty.”
Emperor Xianping listened to the reasons for not accepting Tuoba Lin's group and thought Xiao Yu's method was better. However, Emperor Xianping frowned because of Xiao Yu's first few sentences: "With the North-South Canal open to navigation, our army no longer has to worry about food supplies. Isn't this the best time to attack Yin?"
Xiao Yu: "No, when the Great Zhou attacks Yin, Yin has the advantage of terrain and popular support. No matter when the Great Zhou launches its northern expedition, the people of Liaozhou will live and die with the Yin Emperor. Therefore, the best time for the Great Zhou to attack Yin will be after the Yin Emperor's death. As far as I know, the Yin Emperor had three sons, all of whom were mediocre and their popularity was far lower than that of the Yin Emperor."
Liang Bizheng and Prince Qi were the first to refute Xiao Yu's words, because Emperor Yin was only forty-nine years old this year, and Liang Bizheng would definitely not outlive him. Prince Qi was also a year older than Emperor Yin, and even if he could outlive Emperor Yin, if Emperor Yin died at the age of seventy, Prince Qi, at the age of seventy-one, probably wouldn't have the strength to personally go to the battlefield.
Emperor Xianping was six years younger than Emperor Yin, but disregarding the question of who lived longer, if he had waited until Emperor Yin died before attacking the Yin Kingdom, wouldn't that have been a blatant message to the entire court and local officials and people of the Great Zhou Dynasty that he, the ruler of the Nine Provinces, was actually afraid of an Emperor Yin who only occupied one province?
Ultimately, Emperor Xianping adopted Xiao Yu's suggestion to reject Tuoba Lin's offer, but he did not make a clear statement on when to attack Yin.
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Author's Note: Ugh, another major plot twist is coming up, and major plots take longer to write, so I can't promise you when I'll be able to resume double updates [pity].
100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow!
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