Chapter 751
Gongsun Kang: Gather troops from 5 cities and seize Zhangfang City!
After listening to Chen Li's words, Xiao He looked resolute and immediately decided on a plan to win over the Liaoyang merchants and take the city without bloodshed.
Everyone accepted the order and secretly began preparations.
...
Inside the Liao palace, Gongsun Kang paced anxiously, his brow furrowed, making him unapproachable.
The Liao Kingdom is no longer as peaceful as it once was, and is now caught in a dilemma of internal and external troubles, with every step it takes being as precarious as walking on thin ice.
All the internal troubles originated from Gongsun Yuan.
In a moment of impulsiveness, this prince of Liao lost 100 million coins and gained nothing.
One hundred million coins is no small sum. Although the Liao Kingdom has a decent foundation, such a huge loss, accumulated over time, will inevitably shake the foundation of the Liao Kingdom.
This would have an immeasurable negative impact on the national treasury, the people's livelihood, and even the morale of the army. Thinking of this, Gongsun Kang's anger intensified.
The external threat was the ever-approaching Han army.
Now that the Han army has successfully captured Fangcheng and its foundation is gradually being stabilized, it is clear that they have set their sights on another city of the Liao Kingdom.
They were poised to press their advantage and advance with unstoppable momentum.
What made Gongsun Kang even more furious and resentful was that the Han army captured Fangcheng without losing a single soldier. They easily succeeded by simply turning the merchants against them, and also seized a large amount of grain, money and supplies from Fangcheng, making their strength even greater.
All of this was completely beyond Gongsun Kang's expectations.
He had thought that the Han army, having just entered the Liao Kingdom, was not yet firmly established and that even if they attacked, they would surely pay a heavy price. He never imagined that the Han army could so easily capture a wealthy city.
Moreover, they were able to obtain so many supplies, which made the Liao Kingdom's situation increasingly difficult.
Faced with the unstoppable advance of the Han army, Gongsun Kang racked his brains but could not come up with a solution. With nowhere to vent his anxiety, he could only unleash all his resentment on Gongsun Yuan.
If it weren't for this rebellious son's reckless and extravagant behavior, the Liao Kingdom wouldn't be in its current predicament.
At this point, Gongsun Yuan had long lost his former high spirits.
After suffering two crushing defeats and wasting a huge amount of money, he finally realized his own absurdity and naivety.
He was well aware that as the crown prince of the Liao Kingdom, his retreat in the face of battle made him a deserter, and he could not escape responsibility.
Knowing his sins were grave, Gongsun Yuan did not offer any explanation or resistance in the face of his father Gongsun Kang's anger and rebuke. He simply lowered his head, stood obediently in place, and let Gongsun Kang hurl his insults.
Gongsun Kang stood in the hall, pointing his finger at Gongsun Yuan and cursing him incessantly, listing all his faults, his tone full of disappointment.
After hurling his insults for a long time, his anger gradually subsided, and his tone softened.
Just then, Gongsun Yuan slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with utmost sincerity:
"Father, I know I was wrong."
"Once I recover, I will repent and do my utmost to help you govern the Liao Kingdom, make up for my mistakes, defeat the Han army, and preserve the Liao Kingdom's territory."
Upon hearing this, Gongsun Kang was taken aback, and the anger on his face instantly froze.
He clearly hadn't expected Gongsun Yuan to say such a thing.
After a moment, he came to his senses and couldn't help but burst into laughter. Although there was some helplessness in his laughter, there was more relief than anything else.
It seems this rebellious son has finally come to his senses.
After laughing, Gongsun Kang realized that he had been a little too angry and had gone too far with his words. Gongsun Yuan was still recovering from his injuries and should not get angry.
So he suppressed the remaining anger in his heart, turned his head and called out in a deep voice towards the outside of the hall:
"Imperial physician, come in!"
The imperial physician hurriedly entered the hall, knelt down, and bowed in respect:
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Gongsun Kang waved his hand, his tone softening considerably, and asked:
"Imperial Physician, how is Yuan'er's injury recovering?"
The imperial physician rose, bowed, and reported:
"Your Majesty, His Highness's injuries are healing very well. The wounds have scabbed over and there is no immediate danger. He only needs to rest and recuperate to fully recover."
Upon hearing the imperial physician's reply, Gongsun Kang felt a great weight lifted from his heart, his expression softened completely, and he felt much better.
As long as Gongsun Yuan can recover and repent, the Liao Kingdom still has hope.
He asked another question:
"How long will it take for him to fully recover and return to normal?"
The imperial physician pondered for a moment, considered it carefully, and then respectfully gave his reply:
"Your Majesty, although His Highness's injuries are not serious, it will take about a month for him to fully recover and be able to manage affairs and lead troops normally."
"One month..."
Gongsun Kang repeated these words in a low voice, his brows furrowing slightly as he fell into deep thought.
Now that the Han army is pressing forward step by step, the Liao Kingdom is in imminent danger. There are too many variables in just one month. He must come up with a solution as soon as possible and cannot sit idly by and wait for death.
After a moment's thought, Gongsun Kang addressed the area outside the hall in a loud voice:
"Someone, convey my decree: summon Li Xu to my study immediately. I have important matters to discuss with him!"
The atmosphere in the hall eased slightly, and when Gongsun Kang finally spoke, the imperial physician who had been standing by with his hands at his sides breathed a sigh of relief.
When Gongsun Yuan's injuries first became apparent, he was filled with fear, worried that his lord would take his anger out on him.
"Take good care of Yuan'er's body, use the best medicine to treat him, and make sure he recovers as soon as possible."
Gongsun Kang showed no criticism, then turned his head and looked at the imperial physician.
"Here!"
The imperial physician bowed and agreed immediately.
After dismissing the imperial physician, Gongsun Kang's gaze fell upon Gongsun Yuan's pale face:
“Yuan’er, once you’re feeling better, you must learn some skills from Li Xu. Don’t be as reckless as you used to be.”
He paused, then earnestly gave his advice:
"From now on, you must think twice before you act. Don't act impulsively on a whim and do those childish, ridiculous, and ultimately foolish things. Do you understand?"
Looking into his father's eyes, filled with concern and expectation, Gongsun Yuan felt a lump in his throat and forced himself to nod slightly.
“Father, please rest assured, your son will remember your teachings, learn from Mr. Li, and never let you down.”
Seeing his son so sensible, Gongsun Kang smiled with satisfaction and gently patted the back of his hand.
"You don't need to rush to express your opinion. Focus on recovering first. I still have official business to attend to, so I'll head back now."
"Father, please take care."
Gongsun Yuan responded softly, watching Gongsun Kang's figure turn and leave.
Before long, Gongsun Kang brought Li Xu to the study.
As soon as he sat down, Li Xu bowed and reported on state affairs:
"Your Majesty, I have already sent reliable scouts to Fangcheng to gather information. I expect they will be able to report back the truth soon."
After a moment of silence, Gongsun Kang spoke:
“Li Xu, if you have any free time lately, go and teach Yuan’er more. Let him learn from you the principles of being an official and how to conduct himself, and temper his character. Don’t spend all day doing nothing and just do impulsive and reckless stupid things.”
Gongsun Kang always had mixed feelings of love and anger towards this son. He loved his intelligence but was also annoyed by his unruly nature.
Gongsun Yuan's earnest statement today truly warmed his heart and gave him the idea of properly nurturing this son.
After much thought, only the calm and capable Li Xu could properly guide Gongsun Yuan.
Upon hearing this, Li Xu was visibly taken aback.
He pondered to himself:
Gongsun Yuan has really changed?
He had once been ordered by Gongsun Kang to teach Gongsun Yuan, but the young master was unruly and acted like a spoiled brat all day long. He was disobedient and refused to listen to teachings. All his attempts to teach him were in vain, and in the end, he had no choice but to give up.
Now that the king has brought up this matter again, Li Xu can't help but hesitate, fearing that the same mistake will be repeated.
Gongsun Kang noticed Li Xu's hesitation and understood the situation perfectly. He slowly spoke:
“I know that you must think that Yuan’er is hopeless, but this time is different. After this incident, Yuan’er has indeed matured a lot and has developed a desire to learn.”
"Li Xu, give Yuan'er another chance, and I'll trouble you to put in more effort."
After saying that, he looked at Li Xu with a look full of entrustment.
Looking into his lord's eyes, Li Xu's hesitation gradually dissipated, and he bowed in response:
"Your Majesty understands. If Your Highness is truly eager to learn, I will do my utmost to impart all my knowledge and skills, and I will not be perfunctory."
Upon hearing Li Xu's agreement, Gongsun Kang showed a satisfied expression and nodded slightly.
After settling Gongsun Yuan's teaching affairs, his gaze fell on the topographical map on the table, his eyes fixed on the two characters "Fangcheng".
Just then, Li Xu quietly reported:
"Your Majesty, the scouts have brought back news."
With that, he handed the secret letter to Gongsun Kang with both hands.
Gongsun Kang took the secret letter, opened it and read it carefully. The letter recorded in detail what the scouts had seen and heard in Fangcheng.
Scouts disguised themselves as civilians every day to gather information in the city and closely monitor the Han army's every move.
To the scout's surprise, the people of Fangcheng had great faith in the Han army. When they saw him scouting, they took the initiative to enthusiastically praise the Han army for its strict discipline and care for the people.
Standing to the side, Li Xu saw Gongsun Kang looking at the secret letter with a solemn expression, and his heart tightened as well.
Back when Fangcheng was in the hands of the Liao Kingdom, the people dared not complain, but they had never shown such support before, and the hearts of the people had never been so united.
The fact that the Han army has won such acclaim from the people so soon after arriving in Fangcheng shows how solid its foundation is and how skillful its methods are, which is by no means a good thing.
The spy knew the importance of the matter and dared not conceal anything. He wrote down everything he saw, heard, and felt in the letter and sent it back to the Liao Kingdom as soon as possible.
Gongsun Kang read the secret letter twice and fell into deeper thought.
He desperately wanted to retake Fangcheng, the gateway to Liaodong. Losing Fangcheng meant losing an important barrier.
Faced with the prestige and strength of the Han army, he was at a loss for what to do.
Li Xu saw through Gongsun Kang's thoughts, and after pondering for a moment, suggested:
"Your Majesty, if you truly wish to retake Fangcheng, I have a plan: we can gather all the troops from the five cities surrounding Fangcheng and concentrate our forces to launch a strong attack on Fangcheng."
"With the strength of our forces, I believe we can recapture Fangcheng in one fell swoop and crush the Han army's morale."
Li Xu knew in his heart that this plan, though seemingly safe, was actually a terrible one.
Gathering troops from five cities would not only consume a large amount of manpower and resources, but a strong attack would inevitably result in heavy casualties. Even if Fang City were recaptured, the city would be severely weakened.
Gongsun Kang looked at the map, his heart wavering. A strong attack might be able to recapture Fangcheng, but when he thought about the huge cost of gathering a large number of troops, he hesitated and couldn't make a decision.
At this moment, the Han army had deployed 100,000 troops in Fangcheng, plus the private armies privately raised by the accompanying merchants, bringing the total strength to about 150,000.
Gongsun Kang looked at the map on the table, and he understood it very well.
If one wants to win by force alone and recapture Fangcheng, one must at least gather an equal number of troops to have even a sliver of a chance.
Moreover, they were the ones who took the initiative to attack the city. The Han army was well-rested and occupied the city's strategic location. If they wanted to break through the city gates and defeat the enemy, they would need even more troops. It would be much more than 150,000 men to take it safely.
Such a massive deployment of troops is depleting the very foundation of Liaodong. Even with such a huge gamble, it is not certain that they will be able to recapture Fangcheng. This is undoubtedly a desperate gamble.
If they win, they can regain control of Fangcheng, a strategic location, and cut off the Han army's westward advance. They can even plunder Fangcheng's wealth to make up for their troop losses.
However, if they lost, the Liao army would be completely wiped out and would have no strength left to resist the Han army. What awaited them would be annihilation.
Faced with a glimmer of hope on one side and the risk of annihilation on the other, Gongsun Kang frowned, his mind in turmoil, unable to make a decision for a long time.
Seeing Gongsun Kang's hesitant expression, Li Xu couldn't help but offer his advice:
"Your Majesty, time is of the essence. If we do not make a decision soon, once the Han army has firmly established itself and consolidated the city's defenses, it will be even more difficult to retake Fangcheng in the future, and we may never have another chance."
Gongsun Kang lowered his eyes and remained silent, offering no reply.
He wasn't unaware of this principle; it was just that this matter was of paramount importance, and every decision he made concerned the survival of Liaodong.
Seeing this, Li Xu continued to persuade him:
"Your Majesty, the Han army's ambitions extend far beyond Fangcheng. Their arrival here is undoubtedly aimed at using Fangcheng as a base to gradually erode our Liaodong territory. Next, they will surely try every means to seize several cities near Fangcheng and gradually expand their power."
"By then, even if we don't divert troops from nearby cities to launch a strong attack on Fangcheng, those cities will be breached one by one by the Han army, and the garrisoned troops will be completely annihilated. We will ultimately be unable to escape the fate of being passively attacked."
"Instead of sitting and waiting to be killed, we should take the initiative to gather troops, fight hard, and do our best to retake Fangcheng and seize the initiative."
Li Xu's words were all reasonable and hit the nail on the head. Gongsun Kang was well aware of this.
The clearer the situation became, the harder it was to make a decision; the enormous risks prevented him from ever making a firm decision.
He remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking:
"Let's leave it at that for today. Let me think it over some more and we'll discuss it again later."
After saying this, Gongsun Kang stopped looking at Li Xu, turned around and left the study, heading straight for Gongsun Yuan's bedroom.
He was so upset that he subconsciously wanted to look at his son, hoping to find some respite from the pure bond between father and son.
Li Xu was unwilling to give up. He knew that this matter could not be delayed. Every day of delay would increase the risk. So he hurriedly followed Gongsun Kang to Gongsun Yuan's bedroom, hoping to find another opportunity to persuade him and get him to make a decision as soon as possible.
At this time, Gongsun Yuan was still lying on the bed recuperating from his injuries, which had not yet fully healed, but he was able to move his body slightly compared to before.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw that it was Gongsun Kang and Li Xu coming together. He hurriedly tried to stand up and bow.
Upon seeing this, Gongsun Kang waved his hand.
Seeing his father's appearance, Gongsun Yuan was filled with doubt and couldn't help but ask:
"Why does Father look so worried? Is something troubling you?"
Gongsun Kang still did not answer, but only sighed heavily.
Standing aside, Li Xu, seeing that Gongsun Kang was unwilling to speak, recounted in detail the matters discussed in the study, including Gongsun Kang's dilemmas and concerns, to Gongsun Yuan.
After listening, Gongsun Yuan also fell into deep thought.
A moment later, he raised his head and objected directly:
"Prime Minister, you must not launch a direct attack on Fangcheng! My tavern is still inside Fangcheng, and it has cost me a lot of effort and money."
"If the army launches a full-scale attack, Fangcheng will surely be razed to the ground, and my tavern will be destroyed. Wouldn't I then lose everything?" (End of Chapter)