novelSusiti Chapter 67 Brothers Divided North and South, the Emperor's Three Visits to Show His Affection
Chapter 67 Brothers Divided North and South, the Emperor's Three Visits to Show His Affection
More than a month ago, Li Xuan followed the Black Spear Dragon Cavalry across the Dangyang pontoon bridge to go south. On that day, he looked out at the battlefield ruins from the north side of the pontoon bridge and was shocked by the intensity and cruelty of the previous pontoon bridge defense battle.
Today, Li Xuan miraculously stopped once again on the north side of the Dangyang pontoon bridge, waiting. Returning to this familiar place, his feelings upon looking at the bridge were vastly different. Although not much time had passed, Li Xuan's past military achievements had become his greatest source of confidence.
However, to Li Xuan's surprise, the defense of the Dangyang pontoon bridge is now more stringent than before, as if the pontoon bridge is facing a stronger threat than it was a month ago.
Thinking of his good brother Li Jue, who was currently at Bagong Mountain southwest of Shouzhou, only forty or fifty li away, Li Xuan had a guess in his mind: Could it be that the Yu Kingdom's navy had re-entered the Huai River and threatened the Dangyang pontoon bridge?
Although Guo Rong's letter did not explicitly state why he was urgently summoning Li Xuan to the Shouzhou military camp, Li Xuan knew in his heart that it must be for Li Jue.
Either Li Xuan would step forward to persuade Li Jue to surrender, or they would consult with Li Xuan on how to eliminate Li Jue. Born of the same clan, each serving their own master, clansmen killing each other, fratricide—this is the fate of those who gamble on various paths in chaotic times.
Li Xuan stood on the north side of the bridge, on the bank of the Huai River, leading his horse, silently watching the river flow eastward and watching large numbers of soldiers, especially wounded soldiers and supplies, being transferred northward.
After a while, the officials in charge of managing the pontoon bridge cleared a path for him to the south. Li Xuan no longer hesitated, and ordered his personal guards to ride their horses across the Zhengyang pontoon bridge like the wind, stepping onto the south bank of the Huai River once again, and entering the fortified area on the south bank of the Huai River once more, the place where he had offered his advice to Zhao Quanzhong.
Leading his horse into the fortified area, Li Xuan became increasingly relaxed as he walked. He clearly saw the bustling traffic heading north along the way; the army was retreating. The war for the year was over, and the Emperor's order to deal with Li Jue was probably not to eliminate him now.
"Let's deal with next year's problems next year," Li Xuan thought, though his mindset was a bit unambitious. He couldn't help but feel relieved that the life-or-death struggle between his clan brothers had come much later. Besides, Li Jue had a group of elite members of the Guangling Li clan by his side.
Coincidentally, Li Xuan and Li Ji were also surrounded by a group of people. Regardless of the outcome of this battle, the younger generation of the Guangling Li clan would likely suffer heavy losses in their confrontation. With every family in the clan wearing mourning clothes and holding funerals because of Li Xuan and Li Jue, how could they bear it? It's understandable that Li Xuan was conflicted and unable to make this decision.
After tying up the horses, Li Xuan instructed his personal guards to follow the officers on duty to the barracks to rest. He then silently went to the outside of Guo Rong's command post. Looking at the relatively new command post, Li Xuan secretly sighed that Zhao Quanzhong was indeed meticulous; this building was even larger than the one where Zhao Quanzhong had first met him.
For a man who rose through the ranks of military generals, and was himself a first-rate commander, to have mastered the art of serving his lord and the ways of human relationships so skillfully was truly remarkable. Even someone as shrewd and insightful as Li Xuan couldn't help but admire him.
As Li Xuan waited outside the barracks for his report, a group of officers approached from behind. Li Xuan turned to look back; if they were high-ranking officers, he would have had to salute them.
As luck would have it, the arrival of Li Chongjin, the Commander of the Imperial Guards and Infantry, and several officers from the Imperial Guards were present. The main force of the Imperial Guards was in the Eastern Route Army, and Li Chongjin only had a handful of men left, who had been soundly defeated by Li Jue.
Thinking of this, Li Xuan felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He felt that since Li Chongjin, such an arrogant person, had been beaten so badly, it would be inconvenient for him to vent his anger on Li Jue. He would most likely have to bear the consequences himself.
Whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll still get stabbed. Li Xuan took the initiative to bow and said, "This humble general greets the Commander-in-Chief."
Li Chongjin walked around Li Xuan with a gloomy expression, sighed heavily, patted Li Xuan on the shoulder and said, "You guys did a great job, you showed the might of our Imperial Guard, you're much better than me. If it weren't for your Black Spear Dragon Cavalry's glorious performance, our Imperial Guard would have suffered a complete loss in this battle."
Li Xuan looked up in shock and asked, "What do you mean by that, Commander-in-Chief? Has Commander Fu and the Eastern Route Army been defeated?"
Li Chongjin suddenly realized that the Black Spear Dragon Cavalry had penetrated deep behind enemy lines and was isolated from the main battlefield, with no communication. Li Xuan had crossed the river from Haizhou to the north and then advanced westward along the river, and was still unaware of the specific details of the battle.
He explained briefly: "Fu Zhongdao did his best. This Huainan region is indeed strange; a mere 40,000 reinforcements were able to occupy several different plots of land. They annihilated 25,000 of them, and the remaining 15,000 are stationed in Xinghua, relying on the rivers and lakes."
Although they weren't defeated, they also failed to repel the enemy. Instead, the King of Qi of Guangling led tens of thousands of his main force northward, their military strength and naval power far exceeding the capabilities of the eastern army. Coupled with their unfamiliarity with the terrain, Fu Zhongdao and his men faced immense difficulties in resisting. At this point, they simply couldn't continue fighting, and the Emperor had already dispatched troops to escort them in their retreat.
Li Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The Commander-in-Chief is right."
After saying this, Li Chongjin opened his mouth, seemingly having nothing more to say to Li Xuan. In this battle, his subordinates had achieved varying degrees of merit. Only he, the commander-in-chief, had won decisively and suffered a crushing defeat.
Li Jue, who defeated him, was a scholar from the Li clan of Guangling. Meanwhile, Li Xuan of the Guangling Li clan distinguished himself in the Huaidong campaign, achieving remarkable feats and preserving the dignity of the Imperial Guard. These two cousins, one bringing shame and the other glory to Li Chongjin, left Li Chongjin speechless.
After a moment of awkward silence, Li Chongjin turned to enter the barracks. His identity was special, so there was no need for announcements. He had only taken one step when he couldn't help but stop and ask Li Xuan, "Is that Li Jue your brother?"
Li Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and he lowered his head, saying, "I dare not deceive the Commander-in-Chief, he is indeed my cousin. I am from a minor branch of the family, while he is from the main branch."
Li Chongjin said calmly, "Yes, he's a hero, and so are you. Don't just stand there like an idiot, come inside with me."
Li Xuan nodded slightly in surprise and said, "Yes." It seems that Commander-in-Chief Li Chongjin is unusually easy to talk to today?
Li Xuan followed Li Chongjin inside, while the few others who had come with Li Chongjin stood outside, seemingly just Li Chongjin's lackeys.
Upon entering the courtyard, Li Chongjin arrived at the door of Guo Rong's command room, where he happened to meet one of Guo Rong's personal guards coming out. The guard, seeing Li Xuan following behind Li Chongjin, said knowingly, "His Majesty has ordered me to summon Commander Li to an audience. Since Commander Li has brought him in, please come in quickly."
Li Chongjin nodded, silently lifting the thick curtain to enter. Li Xuan followed closely behind, immediately feeling a wave of heat wash over him. It even made him feel slightly uncomfortable.
With a whoosh, Li Chongjin removed his armor with the help of Guo Rong's personal guards. He instructed Li Xuan, "Hurry up and remove your armor and clothes. It's hot inside. If you're slow, you'll start sweating."
Sweating can easily lead to illness if exposed to a cold wind, so Li Xuan dared not be careless. With the help of Guo Rong's personal guards, he removed his armor and robes. Then, comically, just like Li Chongjin, he entered the inner room dressed in a white undergarment and trousers, looking like a prisoner going to court for trial.
Inside the room, a group of men, all dressed in white traditional Chinese medicine trousers, were discussing the battle situation. Guo Rong was dressed similarly, looking utterly lacking in imperial bearing. In fact, he was more than just lacking in bearing; his undergarments were worn, yellowed, and patched.
Hearing Li Chongjin and Li Xuan enter, everyone looked up at them.
Li Chongjin bowed slightly and said, "This humble general, Li Chongjin, greets Your Majesty."
Li Xuan quickly bowed deeply and said, "This humble general, Li Xuan, has been ordered to come and pay his respects to Your Majesty."
Guo Rong smiled and said, "It's good that you're here. Please take a seat, and give Li Xuan an extra seat."
Well, Li Xuan's official rank was the lowest, so he originally didn't have a seat. Those present were either the emperor's confidants, important court officials, or generals, the lowest being a commander of a garrison.
Li Chongjin instructed, "Place Li Xuan's seat behind me, closer to the Emperor, so he can easily give his reply."
The emperor's eunuchs glanced at Guo Rong, who nodded slightly. Only then did they feel relieved and bring over a stool for Li Xuan to sit on.
Li Xuan, without any ceremony, thanked him and plopped down. The military wasn't rife with formalities; things like lower-ranking officials only being allowed to sit on one side of their buttocks hadn't yet appeared in the Great Zhou Dynasty. If your movements weren't bold and your posture was timid, you'd be ridiculed.
Guo Rong asked, "Li Xuan, you must be tired from your journey. I summoned you here urgently because I have something to ask you. Please take a look at this map first."
This is the only map of the Huai River region in the Zhou Kingdom's collection. It is quite enormous and stands prominently in the room. The map has markings indicating the enemy's and our own positions. The markings appear to be made of magnets and firmly attached to the map. To make the emperor and generals happy, the wall behind the map is covered with a whole sheet of iron.
Li Xuan could draw maps himself, so he could study them very quickly. In just a few breaths, the latest battlefield situation was formed in his mind.
After reviewing the map, Li Xuan cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, our army has achieved remarkable results in this southern campaign. Perhaps it is time to call it a day."
Withdrawal was the consensus, and Guo Rong did not make things difficult for him. He sighed and said, "You are right. The weather is cold, and the New Year is approaching. The soldiers are homesick, and the Southern Dynasty is working hard to reinforce the north bank of the Yangtze River. We cannot continue fighting. This southward campaign was a hasty decision by me, and we almost gained nothing. On the contrary, it boosted the confidence of the Yu Kingdom. The army is not at fault; the fault lies entirely with me."
Guo Rong's self-criticism shocked everyone present, who stood up and said, "Your Majesty, be careful with your words."
Li Chongjin, his face flushed with shame, said, "It is all my fault for being incompetent. This excellent situation has been ruined in an instant. If I had been more cautious, the Huainan region might have already been in our hands. Why would Your Majesty be so humiliated? If Your Majesty is guilty, the blame lies solely with me."
Facing the loyal and honest Commander of the Imperial Guards, Zhao Quanzhong, he earnestly offered his advice:
"Victory and defeat are common occurrences in warfare. We were just a hair's breadth away from victory. If it weren't for Li Jue's swift reaction and audacious courage, if we had only allowed Commander-in-Chief Li to rest for two days and recover his strength, the outcome would have been very different."
"Your Majesty, there are countless heroes and valiant men in the world; there's no reason for us to be the only ones to win. Please don't blame yourselves. Let's return to Bianjing to identify and address our shortcomings, reorganize our troops, and make more thorough preparations. We can come back next year and fight again."
Both commanders-in-chief of the Imperial Guards stepped forward to share the emperor's burdens.
The seasoned Prime Minister Li Gu, not to be outdone, also tried to save face for Guo Rong, saying, "Your Majesty is too kind. The Southern Dynasty is a great power, occupying a land of wealth and resources, with hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers and millions of households. Its military strength is also formidable. Moreover, fighting on our own soil, it is not something that can be taken in a single battle."
This battle was only our dynasty's first, yet it already demonstrated our might and morale. In the Battle of Shouzhou and the Huai River, the Yu army suffered nearly 30,000 casualties. In the Eastern Route Army's surprise attack on the Guangling reinforcements, 25,000 enemy soldiers were annihilated. The Black Spear Dragon Cavalry also achieved victories of 23,000 to 24,000 men around Haizhou.
These are the well-trained troops of the Yu state, not a hastily assembled force. Our dynasty has already achieved the victory of annihilating 80,000 to 90,000 elite enemy troops in just over a month, which is enough to cripple the Southern Dynasty. To demand more would be to act rashly.
"If one campaign fails, we'll launch a second one next year. If the second fails, we'll launch a third. The army of Yu is not inexhaustible; how many more 80,000 or 90,000 can they withstand? Forgive my bluntness, but the 80,000 or 90,000 we annihilated this time represent Yu's strongest fighting force. When they come again next year, the troops they bring in from elsewhere will be far inferior to the elite troops stationed north of the Yangtze River. Our army will only find it easier to win each time."
Guo Rong understood everyone's good intentions, but while he said it that way, he couldn't think it that way. Yu's army suffered losses of eighty or ninety thousand. Was Zhou's army's loss small?
The siege of Shouzhou resulted in the loss of over 3,000 soldiers, with Li Chongjin suffering a total loss of 17,000 to 18,000. The loss of 8,000 cavalrymen in Huainan was particularly devastating for the entire army. Later, the siege of Bagong Mountain also resulted in 3,000 to 4,000 casualties.
On the eastern route, the Black Spear Dragon Cavalry suffered over half its losses, with nearly three thousand men either dead or seriously wounded. The eastern route army, along with the reinforcements from Guangling of Yu and the Chu army, fought fiercely on two fronts for over ten days, also incurring significant casualties. Otherwise, his brother-in-law, Fu Zhongdao, wouldn't have secretly sent a letter requesting reinforcements.
All things considered, the Zhou army suffered approximately 35,000 casualties in the first campaign against Huainan. The Yu state was crippled, and so was the Zhou state. The second and third campaigns? They were far from as easy as Li Gu had described.
Despite his impetuous nature, Guo Rong was quite tactful in his dealings with others. He wouldn't insist on staying in a high position and suffering the cold if his subordinates offered him a way out.
He immediately nodded silently, no longer arguing about who was responsible for the unfavorable outcome of the battle.
He said to Li Xuan, "I've gotten carried away with the conversation. Li Ziyu is right, we can't continue fighting this year. Our army is already making arrangements for withdrawal. The most urgent task now is to prevent the Yu army from finding an opportunity and to ensure a steady retreat to north of the Huai River so we can fight again next year. Ziyu, I heard that the commander of Bagong Mountain across the river, the military commander of Desheng Army, is your cousin?"
"Here he comes!" Li Xuan, managing to suppress his emotions, calmly replied, "Your Majesty is wise. Li Jue and I are indeed from the same clan and have been classmates for five years. He is a man of high moral character and unwavering integrity. If Your Majesty wishes to persuade him to surrender, I am afraid I cannot do so."
Guo Rong laughed and said, "Don't be nervous. As the ancients said, 'Relatives should cover for each other.' You can't betray a relative if they break the law. Besides, Li Jue is a minister of the country, and it is his duty to defeat our army. I am not so petty as to force you brothers to kill each other."
Since my ascension to the throne, I have longed every day for talented people from all directions to join my court and work together to unify the country and quell the chaos of the past forty years. I have also been complacent and thought I had succeeded because of the talents from other countries like Li Ziyu who came to serve me.
It wasn't until he met Liu Renzhan, Li Jue, and Lin Xiao, these elites from the South, that he realized there were many heroes scattered throughout the land. Li Jue, in particular, was only twenty-five years old, so full of youthful vigor and charm, with an unlimited future.
His ability to lead a weak force to defeat our iron cavalry amidst chaos and despair, and to gather scattered land and naval troops to occupy Bagong Mountain, is proof enough of his loyalty, courage, integrity, and decisiveness. I truly envy the emperor of the Southern Dynasty; how fortunate he is to have such a perfect minister!
I know that he has repeatedly defeated our army at Bagong Mountain, boosting morale throughout the Huai region. It would be unreasonable to ask him to surrender to our dynasty at this time. I invited you here not for the present, but for the future. The Southern Dynasty court is controlled by some treacherous individuals.
The more upright a person is and the more meritorious they are, the more likely they are to be targeted and suppressed. I don't ask you to speak eloquently; I only ask that Li Jue know that whenever he comes to serve me, I will treat him with the rank of Marquis.
The Li family of Guangling was once a family of prime ministers. Li Jue and you brothers have entered officialdom and worked hard, just to restore the glory of our ancestors, haven't you? I want Li Jue to know that I have accepted him. As long as he is willing to come, he will definitely have a seat in the Secretariat of our dynasty.
If there are still such virtuous and talented individuals in the world, I will continue to add more chairs. If the Secretariat is too small to accommodate all the chairs, I will dismantle the Secretariat and build a grand Hall of State Affairs for all the talented people in the world.
I believe that heroes like them can only have the best opportunity to realize their ambitions under my rule. Can you convey my true intentions to Li Jue?
The emperor's words moved all the civil and military officials present, who knelt down and prostrated themselves, saying, "Your Majesty's spirit is as vast as the four seas and your heart is with the world. Heroes and talents from all directions will surely flock to you like rain."
Guo Rong's words were specifically addressed to Li Xuan, but also to the civil and military officials present.
Even though Li Xuan understood that Guo Rong was asking him to carry out the mission of persuading Guo Rong to surrender, he was still moved by the monarch's magnanimity. Perhaps this was the charm of Guo Rong: he lived a simple life, was not interested in women, always kept his word, and was always serious.
From the prime minister and the general to ordinary people, Guo Rong always kept his promises, even if it meant working overtime all night and suffering hardship himself, he would never let his subjects down.
Li Xuan's eyes reddened, and he choked out, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will go and make preparations immediately. I will certainly convey Your Majesty's good intentions to Brother Hehuang."
Guo Rong smiled with relief: "Oh dear, why are you all so flustered? Get up, all of you. Things in this world are done one step at a time, there's no rush, we'll take it one step at a time. Ziyu, here's a letter from home, it arrived along with the Empress's letter. Please keep it safe."
Li Xuan was deeply moved. The army maintained strict secrecy, making it extremely difficult for family members to send letters to the troops. Therefore, Empress Fu would often use the opportunity of sending a message to Guo Rong to invite the wives of high-ranking officials and generals to collect their letters into a large package. Using the Emperor and Empress's communication channels, these packages would be sent to the front lines. Guo Rong would then distribute these letters to the civil and military officials.
Li Xuan had never imagined he would be entitled to receive a letter from home. He didn't know if it was because he had received special treatment from Guo Rong, or because his wife, Feng Niaoniao, had made a name for herself in Bianjing.