Princess Qingyang also realized the gravity of the situation and hurriedly helped Yang Yuanpu dress.
Yang Yuanpu hastily rinsed his mouth twice with salt water brought by a palace maid, then left the sleeping chamber and rushed with Zhang Ping toward Chengyun Hall.
At this time, Shen Yang, Zheng Hui, Gao Chengyuan, Guo Liang, Wang Lin and other generals and officials who remained in Yueyang and were qualified to participate in deliberations, as well as Xue Ruogu—who had been driven out of Xuzhou by Han Qian and recommended by Shen Yang and Zheng Hui to join the Mobile Censorate as a supervising censor—and Jiang Huo, who was providing more detailed information for everyone’s consideration, were all gathered inside the great hall.
The assembled officials had been discussing this matter for quite some time and were waiting for Yang Yuanpu to arrive.
Dowager Consort Wang Chan’er had not directly participated in deliberations for some time, but today’s matter was so significant that she had taken her seat behind the curtain early in the morning.
Before Yang Yuanpu arrived, Shen Yang and Zheng Yu had already been arguing about this matter for quite a while.
Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Han Daoming, the Dowager Consort, and Chai Jian had held secret discussions the previous night and already worked out a plan they could all accept:
First, Li Zhigao, Zhou Dan, and their units should be transferred to Ezhou to subsequently strengthen the defense and management of the eastern frontier regions of Ezhou and Huangzhou.
Second, Marquis Xinchang Li Pu should be recalled to Yueyang. Even without an open break, further cooperation with Chuzhou would be very difficult. With only the fewer than three thousand defeated soldiers remaining in Runzhou, Marquis Xinchang could hardly accomplish anything more.
After Marquis Xinchang Li Pu returned to Yueyang, he could take over from Zheng Yu as Mobile Commissioner of Military Affairs, while Zheng Yu could return to garrison Huangzhou, ensuring the region east of Yueyang remained as solid as an iron barrel.
Third, Chai Jian should replace Li Zhigao as Governor of Shaozhou, overseeing military affairs in Shaozhou and Hengzhou, and taking command of the Wuzhi Ridge defense army and defensive line, to guard against Luo Jia and Zhao Sheng—who had withdrawn to Yongzhou—potentially sweeping northward at any moment.
However, Shen Yang was unwilling to accept such a plan.
Marquis Xinchang Li Pu could return to Yueyang, but what about the three thousand remaining soldiers in Runzhou and the families of the more than thirty thousand Dragon Sparrow Army soldiers?
Although the Left and Right Dragon Sparrow Armies now mainly consisted of surrendered troops and military households recruited near Tanzhou and military households from Junzhou, the six to seven thousand military households remaining in Jinling formed the foundation of the Dragon Sparrow Army’s origins.
The more than thirty thousand family members currently in Runzhou were related to nearly five thousand elite soldiers in the Dragon Sparrow Army at this time, all of them veterans who had experienced the Jingxiang campaigns and the削藩 wars.
If Marquis Xinchang was recalled, what would these veteran soldiers think?
Xue Ruogu’s philosophy was close to Shen Yang’s. After being driven to Yueyang, he had become quite close to Shen Yang. Before Yang Yuanpu arrived, he had already been arguing heatedly with Zheng Yu, Han Daoming, and others, helping Shen Yang with faces turning red.
When Yang Yuanpu arrived, Zheng Yu first reported the plan they had agreed upon. Xue Ruogu then stood up unceremoniously and challenged:
“By recalling Marquis Xinchang to Yueyang at this time, are we to abandon these veteran soldiers and their families who were the earliest to follow His Highness and rendered distinguished service, just as we abandoned Han Daoxun?”
Mentioning Han Daoxun’s matter, Han Daoming, Zheng Chang, and others were left speechless and embarrassed by Xue Ruogu’s challenge. Chai Jian, Li Chong, and others glared with anger, hating him deeply, but they had no way to deal with Supervising Censor Xue Ruogu, whose position was low but whose words carried weight.
Even though Zheng Chang headed the Mobile Censorate, he had no authority to interfere with the impeachment and speaking rights of Palace Censors and Supervising Censors.
The Dowager Consort, sitting behind the curtain, cleared her throat several times quite uncomfortably, but Xue Ruogu remained fearlessly resolute.
However, facing Xue Ruogu’s fearless challenge like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, Zheng Yu responded calmly:
“In Lord Xue’s view, what should we do? Letting Marquis Li continue to waste away uselessly in Runzhou accomplishes nothing, so should Yueyang do nothing and just stand by with folded arms? If Marquis Li returns, it doesn’t mean we must abandon the troops and families remaining in Runzhou. Taking a step back, even if Chuzhou’s military forces are aimed directly at Baohua Mountain, these troops and families remaining in Runzhou won’t fall into the cruel hands of Anning Palace and shouldn’t be in any danger. Could it be that Lord Xue worries Prince Xin and his people will harm them? Or is it that because the enemy might be very cruel, we should do nothing at all? Han Daoxun suffered brutal torture, which was beyond what Baishi and Daoming could anticipate. Lord Xue, if you keep dwelling on this matter, you’re attacking our hearts!”
Zheng Yu had been famous for his eloquence in his youth, and his skills had not diminished with age.
“Xue Ruogu, Han Daoxun’s matter must not be mentioned again,” Yang Yuanpu said sternly to Xue Ruogu.
Regarding Han Daoxun’s death, Han Qian grieved extremely, but Yang Yuanpu found it difficult to truly empathize.
In Yang Yuanpu’s view, when Han Daoxun went to see Wen Muqiao, he harbored thoughts of reaching an accommodation with Anning Palace and the Crown Prince. Desperately longing to ascend the throne himself, Yang Yuanpu could not comprehend Han Daoxun’s sincere willingness to sacrifice himself to prevent Great Chu from collapsing, to avoid warfare causing tremendous civilian casualties and displacement. Deep in his heart, he actually agreed more with his mother, father-in-law, and the decisions made by Zheng Chang and Han Daoming at that time.
This was also a major psychological factor in why, facing the complex situation and the aggressive pressure from Zheng Yu and others, he ultimately chose to compromise and did not forcibly recall Han Qian from mourning or invite him to Yueyang.
Therefore, Yang Yuanpu also did not want people in Yueyang to dwell endlessly on Han Daoxun’s torture.
Only then did Xue Ruogu apologize and return to his seat.
Shen Yang also didn’t want to wrangle with Zheng Yu and his faction over minor details. More important matters required attention. He said: “The rebel forces of Luo Jia and Zhao Sheng that withdrew to Yongzhou have already survived the most difficult times. Their strength is not weak. We should first concentrate our forces to take Yongzhou and eliminate future troubles, then consider the issue of transferring the Left Dragon Sparrow Army to reinforce Ezhou. From any perspective, the current situation in Ezhou hasn’t reached a point where we must rush to its aid with utmost speed.”
“Hasty military action has too many drawbacks. As the ancients said, one should anticipate defeat before considering victory. Has General Shen possibly considered what the consequences would be if we attack Yongzhou vigorously but fail?” Zheng Yu asked.
Preparing an offensive against Yongzhou at this time couldn’t be accomplished in three to five days. Even if things went smoothly, it would take three to five months to capture Yongzhou, not to mention they had to consider the risk of an unfavorable war.
Shen Yang looked toward Han Daoming and others, seeing their evasive gazes. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. In the end, they dared not fight hard battles and even less dared to bear the consequences of military setbacks. They just wanted to hold onto their current territory and then divide it up!
At the same time, Shen Yang thought, maintaining the status quo on the western front, with fewer civilian casualties and displacement—perhaps this couldn’t be considered a bad thing?
Shen Yang’s thoughts were conflicted.
He could see through the eagerness with which the Zheng family and Marquis Xinchang’s household advocated transferring Li Zhigao to reinforce Ezhou, but at the same time, he realized that if the Zheng family and Marquis Xinchang’s household were content with the status quo and eager to divide up existing interests, at least they wouldn’t need to conscript a large army to attack Yongzhou. In the future, they would certainly lack the military power to force Jingzhou and Xiangzhou into submission. With Ezhou and Huangzhou’s strong military position and complete defensive systems, they could better block the rebel armies from advancing west. This would allow the Hunan Mobile Ministry of Personnel and regions like Jingxiang to maintain a peaceful state without warfare for quite some time to come.
Allowing the people to rest and recuperate—wouldn’t that also be a good thing?
Thinking thus, Shen Yang fell silent and no longer insisted on his position of using military force against Yongzhou.
“All matters should be decided by Your Highness. What does Your Highness think should be done about these matters?” Seeing Shen Yang lower his banner so quickly, Zheng Yu was rather surprised and urged Prince Tan Yang Yuanpu to make a decision.
Yang Yuanpu’s thoughts were tangled. He was also more inclined to first attack and capture Yongzhou, annihilate the two rebel forces of Luo Jia and Zhao Sheng to eliminate future troubles, then transfer the main force of the Left Dragon Sparrow Army northward. In that case, if there was no urgent threat on the eastern front, they could even consider annexing Jingzhou and Zhang Xiang’s forces as their next step.
However, Yang Yuanpu had no idea whether they had the capability to capture Yongzhou or how to handle an unfavorable war situation. This made it difficult for him to make a choice.
Yang Yuanpu wanted to send someone to Xuzhou to inquire about Han Qian’s opinion, but just as this thought arose, he subconsciously seemed to feel his mother’s gaze penetrating the curtain and falling on his back, making him feel as if thorns were pricking his back. The psychological shadow in the depths of his subconscious made him hesitate at this moment.
Seeing Yang Yuanpu hesitating for a long time without speaking, Han Daoming was about to say something when he saw the Cishou Palace envoy whispering something to the Dowager Consort’s shadowy figure behind the curtain. After a moment, he heard the Dowager Consort speak: “This matter is of great importance. Your Highness should think more carefully before making a decision. You all should also think of more comprehensive solutions for His Highness’s reference.”
Seeing that even the Dowager Consort did not advocate pressing Prince Tan too hard, everyone stopped urging Yang Yuanpu to make up his mind immediately. Postponing this matter for two or three days wouldn’t cause any major problems.
Yang Yuanpu breathed a slight sigh of relief. After keeping everyone for lunch in Chengyun Hall, he returned to Changxin Palace.
Princess Qingyang was not only more beautiful than Li Yao but also much more lively in temperament. When they had met in Tanzhou before, her conversation and manner had all suited his disposition.
More importantly, although Li Yao’s nature was very gentle and yielding, Yang Yuanpu always felt that behind her loomed a huge shadow that made him feel oppressed.
“Regarding Prince Xin’s devastating attack on the Southern Yamen Imperial Guards, what were the reactions of the various ministers?” Unlike the restrained Li Yao, Princess Qingyang had no such self-imposed constraints. Seeing Yang Yuanpu return, she directly inquired about the results of the Chengyun Hall deliberations.
Yang Yuanpu’s mind was also full of indecision. When Qingyang inquired, he told her all the various opinions and asked: “Do you think I should send someone to Xuzhou to ask Han Qian’s opinion?”
Princess Qingyang smiled sweetly: “In my homeland, I often heard my father say that when a ruler doubts, his ministers become strong. Over time, this inevitably causes the ministers to become arrogant and overbearing toward the ruler, which is a source of national calamity. If my husband has completely no opinion of his own, he may consult several ministers for their views, but he shouldn’t only consult one person, as if besides that person, my husband has no other capable and competent officials under his command—this would also show that my husband lacks judgment in recognizing talent. But if my husband already has an opinion in mind, then he should take his own opinion as the standard and firmly implement it. That way, my husband will have authority, the Mobile Ministry of Personnel will be united from top to bottom, and no difficulty will be insurmountable.”
Qingyang thought to herself that even if she were to cooperate with Xuzhou, it should be Xuzhou that needed her, and she would never want to become a puppet controlled by Xuzhou—moreover, women were all petty. She had been abducted to Great Chu by Han Qian. If she always spoke for Xuzhou in every matter, who knew what Yang Yuanpu might think?
Hearing Qingyang’s discourse, Yang Yuanpu’s spirits lifted, and he said with a smile: “I didn’t expect that besides excelling in poetry and music, you also understand governance, Qingyang.”
“Of course. When my mother was alive, she led Shu’s Shenling Bureau to help my father establish his hegemony over Shu. Although my mother passed away from illness when I was very young, my father often spoke to me of past events. I thought that one day, I too would help my husband achieve hegemony.” As Qingyang spoke, her eyes sparkled with extraordinary radiance.
Last night during their pillow talk, Qingyang had told Yang Yuanpu about how her father in his early years relied on Shu’s Shenling Bureau to consolidate the Divine Strategy Army and establish hegemony over Sichuan and Shu. She hadn’t concealed that her mother and the mother of Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong had been core figures of the Shenling Bureau in Shu in earlier years.
With Qingyang speaking so transparently, Yang Yuanpu instead trusted her more.
With Qingyang’s earlier words as a foundation, Yang Yuanpu at this moment revealed his true inner thoughts:
“The Chuzhou army merely devastated one division of the Southern Yamen Imperial Guards, probably taking advantage of the complacency of rebel generals like Xu Zhu. Currently, the Southern Yamen Imperial Guards still have over ten thousand remnant troops who have withdrawn into Qiuhu Mountain Villa, still blocking the passage for the Chuzhou army to press toward Jinling City. Inside Jinling City, there are still over seventy thousand rebel troops, and Xu Mingzhen can cross the river with Shouzhou’s elite forces at any time. I think the Chuzhou army’s subsequent warfare might not necessarily go very smoothly. And if our Dragon Sparrow Army’s remaining forces in Jinling can be properly reorganized, they might not be unable to play a role…”
Even though Yang Yuanpu was yielding to pressure from the Dowager Consort, Marquis Xinchang’s household, and the Zheng family, and at the same time didn’t want to appear overly dependent on Han Qian or constantly send people to Xuzhou to seek advice, one thing was very clear to him: if his father-in-law Marquis Xinchang Li Pu could avoid returning too early, it would be better not to have him return to Yueyang too soon. Otherwise, his hands and feet would be bound by even more people.
On the other hand, deep in his heart, he actually leaned toward transferring Li Zhigao to defend Ezhou.
Ezhou was only about three hundred li from Yueyang, connected by the Yangtze River waterway. If something truly happened in Yueyang, recalling Li Zhigao and his forces from Ezhou to Yueyang would be much faster than recalling Li Zhigao from Shaozhou to Yueyang.
It was just that during the deliberations in Chengyun Hall, he had trouble making up his mind. Perhaps he had relied too deeply on Han Qian and Shen Yang in the past and worried that his position would not only fail to gain the support of the Dowager Consort and the Zheng family but might even be opposed by Shen Yang. He dared not easily voice his own position.
Hearing Qingyang’s discourse, however, Yang Yuanpu’s thoughts became clear…