xymnovel Chapter 55 Li Mu
Chapter 55 Li Mu
Chapter 55 Li Mu
When Zhao Heng entered the front hall, Madam Han was sitting in the main seat with a polite smile, but a slight tension could be seen between her brows.
To the right sat Li Shen, the Palace Attendant. Upon seeing Zhao Heng enter, Li Shen rose first, exchanged a few polite greetings, and then solemnly introduced a man with a resolute face seated to his left: "Young Master, please allow me to introduce you. This is Li Mu, General Li. He previously guarded Dai Commandery and Yanmen, defending against the Xiongnu, and achieved remarkable military exploits. In recent years, due to border affairs, he has temporarily returned to Handan to report for duty and rest. He has come to visit you on the King's orders."
Zhao Heng was still guessing the man's identity when he suddenly heard and saw the name "Li Mu" with his own eyes, and his heart was inevitably shocked.
The man before us is none other than Li Mu, the Martial Lord of An, the future military genius upon whom the State of Zhao would rely to support its precarious situation, repel the Xiongnu in the north, and resist the powerful Qin in the west!
Did he come to see me now because of his previous warning to the King of Zhao?
Zhao Heng quickly suppressed his emotions, took a few steps forward, and solemnly cupped his hands to Li Mu: "I have long admired your illustrious name, General, for guarding the northern frontier and protecting the country and its people. How fortunate I am to meet you today! Please accept my bow, General."
Li Mu was slightly taken aback, but immediately stood up, stepped aside to let him pass, and returned the greeting with a cupped hand, his voice deep and resonant: "Young master, you flatter me. I am a soldier, and it is my duty to guard the border. I do not deserve such a grand gesture from you. I have already been disturbed by your visit today on the king's orders."
Seeing this, Madam Han felt somewhat relieved and quickly invited the two to sit down again, and had a maid serve fresh tea.
However, Li Lingcheng suddenly spoke up at the opportune moment: "Madam Han, the King has issued an edict, ordering General Li to speak privately with Prince Heng to inquire about important matters. Please, Madam, step aside and leave the others alone for the time being."
Lady Han was somewhat surprised, but since it involved the king's orders, she dared not be negligent. She immediately stood up and bowed slightly to Li Mu and Li Lingcheng, saying, "In that case, I will take my leave. General and Lingcheng, please do not hesitate to give the order if you need anything."
After saying this, she gestured to Madam Fu and all the maids who were standing in the hall to retreat to the outer room of the main hall, and then left at a distance.
Li Lingcheng himself also retreated to the side of the main hall door, stood with his hands at his sides, facing outwards, to show that he would not eavesdrop on the conversation inside.
For a moment, only Zhao Heng and Li Mu remained sitting facing each other in the front hall.
Li Mu didn't waste time with pleasantries and went straight to the point: "The other day, His Majesty summoned me and mentioned that you, my lord, had predicted in the palace that Yan's recent dispatch of envoys to offer birthday greetings was a ruse, and that they would soon launch a large-scale invasion of Zhao. His Majesty asked for my opinion on this matter. I dared not make a hasty judgment, but considering that you, my lord, could make such astonishing statements at such a young age, you must have some basis for them. Therefore, I have requested permission from His Majesty to come here and hear your insightful words in person. What is your basis for predicting that Yan will launch a large-scale invasion?"
Having guessed the reason for Li Mu's actions, Zhao Heng knew this question would arise. After a moment's thought, he first asked a seemingly unrelated question: "General Li, you have guarded the northern frontier, stationed in Dai Commandery and Yanmen Pass, and have dealt with the Xiongnu for many years. You are well aware of the safety and dangers of the northern frontier. In your opinion, for the Zhao state today, which poses a greater threat: the Xiongnu in the north or the Yan state in the east? Which is more urgent?"
Li Mu was not surprised by Zhao Heng's question. After a moment's thought, he replied, "The Xiongnu are a greater menace than the Yan state. The Xiongnu are nomadic barbarians, appearing and disappearing like the wind, plundering by nature. They have no fortified cities or states, nor do they possess any sense of reason or righteousness. Their danger lies in their unpredictability and difficulty in defense, as well as their direct slaughter of border people, destroying their very foundations. Although they have been somewhat restrained in recent years through resistance, their power remains, and they continue to be a major threat to the northern frontier. Although the Yan state sometimes clashes with us, it is ultimately a state with established customs and defenses, and it has envoys to communicate with. Its actions are still governed by rules and regulations. Moreover, its current strength does not appear to surpass that of the Zhao state."
Zhao Heng nodded in agreement, but then asked, "Then, for the Yan state, is the situation exactly the opposite?"
"What does that mean?"
"A century ago, the Shanrong were powerful, and the State of Yan was indeed in danger of being destroyed by the barbarians. It was only thanks to Duke Huan of Qi's respect for the king and his efforts to repel the barbarians that it survived. But now, the main force of the Xiongnu raids the Zhao and Qin in the west and threatens the Donghu in the east. The threat to the State of Yan is no longer so important. The one that can threaten the foundation of the State of Yan now is no longer the barbarian cavalry beyond the Great Wall, but the State of Zhao, which has firmly locked it in the Liaoxi region and restricted its expansion and development."
Li Mu straightened his posture, his expression becoming even more serious.
Zhao Heng continued, "Since the fall of the Zhongshan State, Zhao and Yan have shared a border of several hundred miles. The state of Yan is well aware of the disparity in strength between us. When our state is strong, Yan may have been somewhat afraid of us."
However, times have changed. The battles of Changping and Handan resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of Zhao soldiers, causing a sharp decline in the state's power. Now, our country is facing a severe shortage of able-bodied men, and border troubles remain unresolved; we are in a period of unprecedented weakness. How could the rulers and ministers of Yan not know this? They feared us in the past because we were strong; now that they see us so weak, why would they still harbor any fear?
Li Mu said, "What you say makes sense, young master. However, the Yan Kingdom has made several overtures in recent years, and now they have even sent their prime minister to personally congratulate the king on his birthday. How can you be sure that this is not a genuine attempt to improve relations, or at least a temporary measure to seek peace?"
Zhao Heng calmly replied, "Whether or not they are showing goodwill should be judged by their actions, not just their words. As far as I know, in the same year that Handan was relieved of its siege, the Yan state, under the pretext of aiding Zhao, sent troops to occupy Changcheng, a city of Zhao. To this day, Changcheng remains under Yan control, an exclave of theirs that has entered our territory. At that time, their reluctance to launch a large-scale invasion could be explained by their fear that Zhao, having just won a victory, was filled with grief and indignation among its soldiers and civilians, and thus dared not easily provoke us."
Li Mu frowned slightly.
Zhao Heng continued, "But five years have passed since the siege of Handan was lifted. For Zhao, these five years have been a period of barely catching our breath; but for Yan, it has been over a decade without a major battle, a time for recuperation and building up strength. King Xi of Yan has only been on the throne for four years, a young and ambitious man eager to establish his prestige. If he has greedy and impetuous ministers around him, seeing Zhao's weakness, and using phrases like 'a golden opportunity,' can King Xi not be tempted?"
After listening, Li Mu remained silent for a moment, then looked at Zhao Heng and said, "Your concerns are ultimately based on common sense and the general trend of public opinion. Anyone who is concerned about guarding against the Yan state might come to a similar conclusion. As for war, it is a matter of great importance to the state, a matter of life and death, and should not be taken lightly. Does Your Highness have no further basis for your argument?"
Zhao Heng pondered for a moment.
"Based solely on general trends, it is indeed difficult to convince the public. However, there is another reason in my heart that I did not want to speak lightly, for fear of being accused of making unwarranted comments on border affairs. Now that the general has inquired about this matter, I will dare to speak frankly."
Li Mu raised his thick eyebrows slightly and gestured, "Please speak freely, young master."
Zhao Heng straightened his sleeves slightly and said slowly, "I have heard that when you first took command of Dai County, General, you saw that the Xiongnu cavalry came and went like the wind, while our border troops were still recovering from a recent defeat and their morale was low. Therefore, you decided on the strategy of 'fortifying the walls and clearing the fields, feigning weakness and conserving strength.' When small groups of Xiongnu attacked, we would gather our people and livestock into the fortresses and hold them firmly; when a large Xiongnu force pressed in, we would send out signals through beacon towers, and all the fortresses would defend together, never engaging in battle."
He paused, and seeing Li Mu's calm expression, continued, "This strategy has been implemented for several years, and the border cities have not fallen, and people and livestock have been preserved. However, many of the young and strong generals in the army think that you are a coward; criticism has also gradually arisen in the court, saying that you spend hundreds of thousands of coins and grain every year, but have not achieved a single victory. Finally, two years ago, my grandfather summoned you back to Handan and sent another general to replace you."
Li Mu remained expressionless, only taking a sip of tea before saying, "I didn't expect that you, young master, would know so much about the border affairs while you are in Handan."
"My teacher would sometimes tell Heng stories of military strategists to broaden his knowledge."
Zhao Heng brushed it off casually, then continued, "After you left, General, the border troops of Dai Commandery would always come out of the city to fight whenever the Xiongnu attacked. However, they suffered defeats in several battles, with many soldiers losing their lives. The border people were even unable to farm or graze their livestock. Last winter, the Xiongnu even penetrated more than a hundred miles into the territory and plundered tens of thousands of cattle and sheep. This matter should have been discussed in the court recently."
Li Mu remained silent for a moment, then put down his teacup.
Zhao Heng remained silent for a moment, then looked directly at Li Mu and said, "The threat from the Xiongnu is not only not quelled, but is escalating. Ordinary people may not be fully aware of this, but the Yan envoy has lingered in Handan for many days; surely his entourage has some capable observers? Furthermore, after the battles of Changping and Handan, four out of ten men over fifteen years old in our Zhao state perished—this is common knowledge. Now, on the streets of Handan, there are still many young children and widows, and many young men yet to be raised. Can Prime Minister Li Mu of Yan not see these things?"
He leaned slightly forward: "With the Xiongnu frequently raiding our borders, and a shortage of able-bodied men within our borders, facing such internal and external troubles, if I were the King of Yan, commanding an army I've nurtured for over a decade, and hearing Li Fu's repeated urging to ascend the throne after his return—General, do you think I could withstand such provocations?"
Li Mu remained silent for a long time, gently rubbing his rough hands on his knees.
"What you say, sir, is as clear as a mirror." He suddenly said with a sharp look in his eyes, "The people of Yan do indeed have the nature to take advantage of others' misfortunes. I met Li Fu once before, and he is greedy and impetuous, and loves to make a name for himself. If he strongly advocates attacking Zhao in front of the King of Yan, there is indeed a 70% chance that this matter will be resolved."
Zhao Heng felt somewhat relieved, knowing that his words had swayed the renowned general. However, he showed no joy, simply bowing and saying, "I am young and inexperienced, unfamiliar with military affairs. My words are mostly based on books and hearsay. But the most important matters of state are sacrifice and war." The Yan envoy's unusual eagerness was like the calm before a storm. Therefore, he dared to advise his grandfather to be cautious and strengthen precautions to prevent unforeseen events. If the judgment was wrong, it would only be a false alarm; if, unfortunately, his words came true... He paused for a moment, his voice lowering, "Then we can avoid the danger of Zhao's hasty response and the loss of countless lives."
Li Mu suddenly stood up.
The tall man stood up, creating a gust of wind that startled Zhao Heng.
He then took two steps in the hall, turned around abruptly, and looked intently at Zhao: "Since you, my lord, have considered this, may I ask, if the State of Yan were to truly launch a full-scale attack, how would the State of Zhao, given its current strength, respond?"
Seeing Li Mu's attitude, Zhao Heng also said seriously, "General, you flatter me. I am young and have never been involved in military affairs. I am not familiar with specific battle tactics. What I say is just theoretical and I am afraid that I will make a fool of myself."
"It's alright. Although you are young, your words and thoughts are extraordinary. Our conversation today is just a friendly exchange. I would like to hear your opinion."
"Since the general has asked this question, I, Heng, may offer some humble and foolish thoughts as a starting point for discussion. I hope the general will not laugh at me. As for the question the general asked, I do have some unworthy ideas. But before that, I have something to say, though I am not sure if I should."
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