Chapter 267 — The Failure of Persuasion
"What if," Yeongu said, "you lose this battle too? Who do you think will bear the responsibility?"
Yelü Zhangnu answered in a low voice.
"The defeated commander should bear it."
"That is correct.
"Even if His Majesty personally leads the campaign, His Majesty will not bear the responsibility.
"The commander-in-chief and the deputy commander-in-chief will bear it first, and the anger will also fall upon the xiangwenof each tribal force."
Yeongu's voice lowered slightly.
"The more frightening part comes after that.
"Liao has already lost important regions through four defeats.
"There are not many places left to fall back to.
"You will flee westward, and then be driven still farther west."
Yelü Zhangnu pressed his lips together.
"That cannot happen while the country is still intact..."
Yeongu heard the gap in those words.
If the country were intact, it would be difficult.
If it were not intact, then it could happen.
"The country is already shaking.
"Many tribes are crossing over to Jin.
"Those who have read the course of events have already submitted to Jin.
"That is why, even after the summons for troops was issued, the forces gather slowly."
Yelü Zhangnu tapped the table once with his finger.
"I see. It takes time."
"As I understand it, Liao is trying to draw out time.
"Jin, on the other hand, is trying to finish the battle before Liao comes to its senses.
"If time lengthens, Liao gains the advantage.
"It can gather more troops, and in terms of supplies, materials, and the military administrative structure needed for a long war, Liao is far ahead."
Yelü Zhangnu nodded.
It was not new information.
He already knew as much.
But there was one difference.
The Jin side also understood the matter to that depth.
"That is right. We have grown too large. That is why everything takes time. Jin's victories until now came from that. Battles broke out before we could respond properly, like a sluggish bear, and by luck Jin broke our armies."
Yeongu rejected that.
"That is one side of the truth. Even if you fight now, Jin will not lose."
"No. You sent a man to stir up internal strife because you fear that very thing. We have begun to respond in an organized and systematic way, so you must have grown afraid. That is why you are now using such a petty trick.
"We will not be defeated. So there will be no one to bear the responsibility for defeat. It seems you are telling me to pursue deposition because I would have to bear that responsibility, but that is a useless assumption. We will not be defeated now.
"With only the forces gathering at this moment, we can defeat Jin's army. After that, we will need more time to firmly settle this land again. It will not go beyond this year."
At the words "within this year," Yeongu tilted his head.
It was already the end of the ninth month, or the beginning of the tenth.
The cold wind had been blowing for some time.
Let alone ending the war by then, they would not even manage to gather their forces properly.
"Then if you do lose, who do you think will bear the responsibility?"
At Yeongu's question, Yelü Zhangnu laughed softly.
"I keep telling you that we will not lose."
"I am asking if you do."
"The commander-in-chief and deputy commander-in-chief should bear it, of course. That is only natural. A commander who goes to the battlefield without that resolve should not go at all. If one is defeated, one must fight prepared to die."
"May I understand that as an admission that even if you are defeated, His Majesty, who personally leads the campaign, will not bear responsibility?"
"Yes. Yes, of course. If fear of that drives someone to act, he is no loyal servant of the empire. There is no need to say more. What else do you have? The materials you prepared for your persuasion."
Yeongu changed direction.
"Why do you think the summoning of the tribal forces is late?"
Yelü Zhangnu answered.
"Because the empire has become lenient. In the past, we would have pursued them, smashed them, and crushed them."
Yeongu shook his head.
"The empire has not changed from before. If anything, it has become more impatient, more rude, and more violent in pushing its will without considering the circumstances of the tribes. Perhaps the southern administration has become more lenient, but that has nothing to do with this place."
"Hm. That is a difference in position. Depending on where one stands, the matter may look different."
"I will tell you plainly. The tribes that received the summons are submitting to Jin. They are like weather vanes turning with the wind.
"They turn their heads toward Jin because they think Jin may win.
"Jin has now led three battles to complete victory.
"As Your Excellency knows, many factors determine victory and defeat in battle.
"Numbers, equipment, and weather alone do not explain everything.
"The battlefields were different, and the conditions were different.
"Yet Jin has won every time so far.
"You should consider why."
Yelü Zhangnu said curtly, "Naturally, I have considered it. It is fortune. What we commonly call luck."
Yeongu answered immediately.
"Luck goes this way and that. Yet Jin kept winning. If it were luck, they might have won once, but they should also have lost once. They did not. They kept winning. If it is not luck, then some other factor must exist.
"Jin has fewer troops.
"But many tribes in Liaodong want Jin to win.
"In their hearts, they have already stood on Jin's side.
"There are also many who wish Liao would collapse quickly.
"Those with confidence submit openly.
"Those without confidence help from behind.
"Liao must struggle to prepare everything it needs by itself.
"When Jin reaches out a hand, someone takes it.
"They know that Jin's victory will lead to their tribe's benefit.
"The people's hearts have turned.
"Jin has few numbers, but many helping hands.
"In such a situation, Jin's army continues to grow more elite.
"Your Excellency says you are waiting for the army to gather.
"As time passes, more troops will gather.
"But that is all.
"They will continue watching the direction of victory and defeat.
"And at any time, they may attach themselves to Jin.
"Because of the three victories.
"Because of Liao's tyranny."
How long did he have to listen to words that persuaded neither side?
Yelü Zhangnu turned his head under a sudden wave of fatigue.
These days, he tired more easily.
It was age.
The gaze of the guard standing to the side was sharp.
At one command, he would rush forward and cut off Yeongu's head.
"Enough, Jungnangjang Yi."
"Ah..."
Yeongu felt defeated.
"May I add just one more word?"
"Just one."
"Understood. It would not be strange if a rebellion broke out anywhere right now. Jin's rise is only one among many. Rebellion may break out anywhere, at any time. In the end, unless Liao reforms now, it will collapse."
"That is the same thing again. You have taken trouble to come here, and you have labored hard to say words that will not work. Now, what should I do with you?"
Yeongu felt a distant despair.
Persuading people was not something just anyone could do.
He had not known that, so he had rushed in, and in the end he had failed.
No, he had not believed a person could be persuaded with only a few words.
He had thought that if he explained it clearly enough, the other side might follow.
But that was not so.
People judged from the place where they stood.
Even the same matter was evaluated differently.
They saw it differently.
All the more with a sensitive matter tied to victory and defeat in war, they shouted with hostility that they would be the ones to win.
"What should you do? I failed, so I should return. Or I can look for someone else who might be able to do it."
"Did you think I would let you go? A Goryeo jungnangjang?"
Yeongu let out a sigh.
Somehow, nothing strayed even an inch from what he had expected.
Since opening the middle dantian, there was almost nothing left to fear.
Most men called masters now appeared below him.
"I will return. After the battle, I will find you among the prisoners."
"What an absurd dreamer you are."