Moma Liangshan

Chapter 204 Half a mile is enough to demonstrate one's will

East of the capital, a massive army of 60,000 stretched for miles. Wang Hao rode beside the princess of Shu and asked, "Where does Your Highness plan to camp?" The princess, puzzled by his question, replied, "Yelü Dashi and Xiao Yu have already made arrangements. We will establish a camp three miles long, along the eastern city wall." Wang Hao hesitated slightly, then said, "If I remember correctly, the eastern city wall is seven miles long, is that correct?" The princess nodded, replying, "Indeed, seven miles!" Wang Hao continued, "I would like to know whether the northernmost point of the camp is before or behind the northern city wall?" The princess seemed to realize something and asked, "What if it's before the northern city wall, and what if it's behind it?" Wang Hao did not answer directly but instead said, "If a vicious wolf were to pounce on your father, would Your Highness choose to stand in front of him or hide behind him?"

The princess of Shu answered resolutely, "Of course, I will stand in front of my father!" At this point, Wang Hao nodded and said, "Don't you understand?" With this reminder, the princess of Shu finally understood and said, "Thank you for reminding me!" She then immediately summoned Li Cangbai and ordered, "Tell Yelü Dashi and Xiao Yu that the northernmost point of the camp must extend half a li beyond the north city wall!" Li Cangbai hesitated slightly, then reminded her, "According to the previous agreement, the front camp will be guarded by troops from Yunzhong!" The princess of Shu understood the implied meaning and looked at Wang Hao. Wang Hao said, "Then issue an order to the entire army that Her Highness will personally lead the Liaodong troops to garrison the front camp!" Li Cangbai looked at the princess of Shu, awaiting final confirmation. The princess of Shu nodded and said, "Proceed according to Young Master Wang's instructions, and inform Xiao Shanbie to set up the central command tent in the very center of the front camp!"

After Li Cangbai left, the Shu princess asked, "Aren't you really afraid of death?" Wang Hao chuckled awkwardly and joked, "Fertile fields, beautiful houses, and beautiful wives and concubines await me; how could I not be afraid of death?" The Shu princess suddenly became a little jealous and said, "I didn't expect you to be such a lecher!" To avoid embarrassment, Wang Hao changed the subject and said, "Our urgent dispatch to the city should have reached your father by now, right?" The Shu princess didn't speak but simply nodded in response. Wang Hao said, "I'd like to know what official position your father intends to bestow upon you?" It turned out that the urgent dispatch was jointly drafted by Wang Hao and the Shu princess, detailing the current situation of the 60,000 palace troops and the entire process of the Shu princess being recommended by Yelü Dashi and Xiao Yu as the commander-in-chief of the three armies. After a moment's thought, the princess of Shu said, "You should know that I am already a princess of Shu, with a title equivalent to a prince. Therefore, the most likely arrangement by my father is for me to formally establish my own residence!" Wang Hao was somewhat surprised and said, "Establish a residence with the same rank as the Three Excellencies?" The princess of Shu nodded and replied, "Exactly!"

When Yelü Dashi and Xiao Yu received the order from the Shu princess, they were both extremely surprised. Yelü Dashi, who had been appointed a Hanlin Academician, always adhered to the principle of "a wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall," and he absolutely could not accept this incredibly radical decision. He immediately rode off to find the Shu princess. Xiao Yu quickly went from disbelief to deep admiration, but upon hearing that the Shu princess would personally station herself at the vanguard camp, he felt that his 20,000 Yunzhong troops would suffer a great insult, and immediately went to request the Shu princess to rescind the order. The two rode at breakneck speed, making quite a splash, and happened to meet halfway, and then traveled together.

Princess Shu had anticipated their arrival and asked, "What brings you two generals here together?" Xiao Yu, lacking Yelü Dashi's cunning, immediately replied, "This humble general hopes Your Highness will rescind your order and allow me to continue guarding the forward camp!" Princess Shu looked at him with newfound respect and said, "The forward camp is now fraught with danger!" Xiao Yu, fearing the princess might refuse, said, "This humble general sees no danger, only opportunities!" Princess Shu was very pleased and said, "General Xiao is an invincible hero. Upon returning to the capital, I will certainly petition the Emperor for your merit!" Although Xiao Yu was the imperial consort, Princess Shu's brother-in-law, his position was less prestigious than that of the governor of Xijing because Princess Shu's sister held no official title. At this moment, Xiao Yu suddenly looked at Yelü Dashi beside him and said, "General Yelü, are you here to compete with me for the vanguard position?" Yelü Dashi was speechless, but at this point, he couldn't possibly suggest "retreating and setting up camp," so he said, "General Xiao will be the vanguard, and I will be the outer flank. Please, Your Highness, lead the Liaodong troops to defend the east gate." Yelü Dashi rearranged the troops, placing the Shu princess in the most central position. The Shu princess felt truly delighted today, saying, "With these two generals here, how can we not defeat the Jurchens?" However, in the near future, due to internal strife within the Liao Dynasty, these two pillars of the Liao Dynasty in its final years were forced to flee to Central Asia, and the other reluctantly surrendered to the enemy.

Upon receiving the urgent message, Emperor Tianzuo did not respond immediately. Even when the 60,000 reinforcements were encamped against the walls, he did not summon the Shu princess. He was making a difficult decision: whether to bring the 60,000 palace troops into the city. Although Shangjing was the capital of the Liao Dynasty, it was not large due to the nomadic lifestyle of the Liao people. It was already somewhat crowded with 50,000 troops and 50,000 civilians; bringing in another 60,000 would create a truly surreal situation. However, the repeated defeats had already robbed the Khitans of their courage to fight the Jurchens in open battle. If they were not allowed into the city, how effective would these 60,000 reinforcements be? Emperor Tianzuo was caught in a dilemma, so he decided to temporarily keep the urgent message within the palace, leaving the Shu princess to decide her course of action. This was Emperor Tianzuo's unconditional trust in the Shu princess, and also his attempt to escape the immediate difficulties. It wasn't until the city's garrison reported, "The reinforcements' camp has been set up in front of the capital," that Emperor Tianzuo, disregarding his imperial dignity, rushed to the corner of the east and north city walls. When he witnessed the soldiers below ramming earth to build the walls and preparing for battle, he was overcome with emotion and exclaimed, "The Liao Dynasty still has soldiers willing to fight!" He then ordered, "Have the Shu princess enter the city immediately; I want to personally reward her!" The eunuch, rarely seeing Emperor Tianzuo smile, quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Less than half an hour later, the eunuch arrived at the Shu Kingdom princess's tent, bowing respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, please enter the city immediately!" The Shu Kingdom princess said, "The camp is not yet completed. As the commander-in-chief, how can I leave? Please inform my father that I will come to pay my respects as soon as the camp is completed!" The eunuch looked anxious and said, "His Majesty is still waiting for Your Highness on the city wall!" Hearing about the city wall, the Shu Kingdom princess realized something and said, "I want one person to accompany me!" The eunuch had no intention of bargaining with the Shu Kingdom princess and said, "This servant only begs Your Highness not to delay any longer!"