Moma Liangshan

Chapter 209 Turning the Tide, Royal Agent

Xiao Fengxian felt a sense of treacherousness upon hearing Prince Zhao's answer, but with no other option but to proceed, he asked, "What benefits did the Duke of Bohai offer His Highness Prince Zhao?" A flash of displeasure crossed Yelü Xinie's face as he replied, "Doesn't Your Majesty, Uncle, think this question is a bit much?" Xiao Fengxian, merely testing the waters, said, "Forgive me! Forgive me!" Yelü Xinie suddenly broke into a broad smile, saying, "Actually, telling you wouldn't hurt. Wang Hao made me a promise!" Xiao Fengxian immediately became extremely alert. "What promise is it?" asked the god. Yelü Xinilie replied, "Wang Hao wants to buy horses from me!" Xiao Fengxian asked in confusion, "As far as I know, Your Highness has no horses!" Yelü Xinilie suddenly became arrogant and said, "Uncle, don't forget that both the twenty tribes of Khitan and the various tribes of Mongolia have vast horse ranches where thousands of horses gallop!" Xiao Fengxian frowned and said, "If the Liao's million-strong army were still here, they would naturally obey. But what is the situation now? Doesn't Your Highness understand?"

Yelü Xinilie, with a smug expression, said, "The Duke of Bohai truly deserves to be called a hero of our time. He is well aware of the immense power of the Grand Compassionate Division, which is why he solemnly invited me to be his agent for trading within the Liao territory!" Xiao Fengxian was somewhat astonished and said, "You, the dignified Prince Zhao of the Khitan, are going to be Wang Hao's agent?" Yelü Xinilie could easily discern the sarcasm in Xiao Fengxian's words, but he didn't care and said, "My father bestowed upon him the title of Duke of Bohai and appointed him as the Governor of Dongjing after only one meeting with him; and that indomitable Princess of Shu is even eager to offer herself to him; I am but a prince born of a concubine, what's wrong with me being Wang Hao's agent in the Liao?"

Xiao Fengxian wanted to argue, but Yelü Xinilie stopped him, saying, "I only hope that you understand, regardless of what methods I have used, the Great Compassionate Division is not a mere shell. If you and the Prince of Qin want to cooperate with me, you'd better show some sincerity!" Xiao Fengxian's anger surged, and he asked, "What sincerity?" Yelü Xinilie did not answer immediately, but calmly said, "Have you considered, Your Majesty, what makes you and the Prince of Qin able to gain the loyalty of the twenty Khitan tribes?" Xiao Fengxian could not answer, because he could not think of an answer that could convince himself. Yelü Xinilie continued, "The twenty Khitan tribes should be under the control of the Grand Compassionate Commandery, so you and the Prince of Qin cannot command these 200,000 troops alone!" Xiao Fengxian frowned and said, "The Prince of Zhao also wants to interfere?" Yelü Xinilie shook his head and said, "The Grand Compassionate Commandery has the authority to mobilize troops from the twenty Khitan tribes, but the authority to command them belongs to the Prince of Qin!" Yelü Xinilie snorted coldly and said, "The Grand Compassionate Commandery needs the Emperor's approval to mobilize even a single soldier from the twenty Khitan tribes. In other words, this authority to mobilize troops is not in your hands, Prince of Zhao!" Yelü Xinilie said, "My father is the ruler of the Great Liao. Whether it is the vast land or the millions of people, they all belong to my father. What you just said is tantamount to plotting rebellion!"

Realizing his words might have led to trouble, Xiao Fengxian quickly asked, "What does the Prince of Zhao want?" Yelü Xinilie was pleased with Xiao Fengxian's tact and said, "Xiao Sixian can relinquish the position of garrison commander of Zhongjing!" Xiao Fengxian couldn't help but question, "What did you say?" Yelü Xinilie stared at Xiao Fengxian and repeated, "Xiao Sixian can relinquish the position of garrison commander of Zhongjing!" Xiao Fengxian, enraged, shouted, "You've gone too far!" Yelü Xinilie, however, grinned maliciously and said, "You have no choice!" Xiao Fengxian, who had enjoyed a life of glory, had never suffered such humiliation and said, "Even without the Great Compassionate Division, I can still gain the support of the twenty Khitan tribes!" Yelü Xinilie shook his head and said, "Without Wang Hao, the Great Compassionate Division is practically useless, and the Imperial Uncle might..." "You've managed to find a new path and gain the support of the twenty Khitan tribes; but with Wang Hao's military supplies, the Grand Compassionate Division will hold immense power. You'd better keep your scheming to yourself!" After a pause, Yelü Xinilie suddenly said, "There's another matter. I feel it's necessary to remind you, Uncle-Master, that the power to mobilize troops rests with the Grand Compassionate Division, while the power to command troops rests with the Prince of Qin. This is also Father's will!" Xiao Fengxian asked incredulously, repeating, "Your Majesty?" Yelü Xinilie said, "Uncle-Master, don't forget that among all the princes and princesses, only the Princess of Shu is closest to Father, and Wang Hao eats and lives with the Princess of Shu!" Xiao Fengxian said, "So, you acting as Wang Hao's proxy is also at His Majesty's behest?" Yelü Xinilie was somewhat displeased and warned, "There are some things you'd better not pry into!"

Xiao Fengxian was speechless, unable to catch his breath, after a long while he gritted his teeth and said, "I agree!" Yelü Xinilie laughed and said, "This isn't the first time the Imperial Uncle and I have cooperated. As long as we each stick to our bottom lines, we can still find common ground while reserving differences!" Xiao Fengxian was somewhat surprised and said, "Seeking common ground while reserving differences? This doesn't seem like His Highness Prince Zhao's style!" Yelü Xinilie smiled and said, "Indeed, I didn't say those words!" Xiao Fengxian asked, "Whose words did they come from?" Yelü Xinilie replied, "Duke of Bohai, Wang Hao!" Xiao Fengxian felt a sense of both surprise and inevitability, and said, "I didn't expect it to be him again!"

Trading a position as the garrison commander of Zhongjing for command of 200,000 troops was a reasonable offer by any measure. After Xiao Fengxian left, Prince Zhao, Yelü Xinilie, arrived at an ordinary side room in his residence. However, the guest in the room seemed to command great respect from this shrewd prince. The moment the door opened, Yelü Xinilie said very respectfully, "My humble abode is modest, but is the Duke of Bohai comfortable with it?" Wang Hao replied, "The Prince Zhao's residence is much more comfortable than the military camp!"

Yelü Xinilie immediately said, "Why doesn't the Duke of Bohai stay a few more days?" Wang Hao shook his head and said, "With a great battle imminent, how can I hide in the city?" Yelü Xinilie said, "The Duke of Bohai is so righteous and awe-inspiring, making us princes and grandsons of the emperor feel ashamed!" Wang Hao shook his head slightly and said, "Has Xiao Fengxian agreed to our request?" Yelü Xinilie said, "He had no choice but to agree!" Wang Hao was very satisfied and said, "Within a month, my men will send eight thousand weapons, half for the Emperor and half for His Highness!" Yelü Xinilie shook his head and said, "As long as the Liao Dynasty exists, I am a prince; if the Liao Dynasty falls, I will be a prisoner! Give all eight thousand weapons to my father, and as for the five hundred warhorses I promised the Duke of Bohai, I will not go back on my word!"