Chapter 108: King Of Nanyang
The lamp in the tent shone brightly, illuminating Li Ye’s handsome face.
Even in death, his eyes held a proud look, as if he possessed the confidence of a comeback.
Empress Li stood with grace, looking down at the corpse on the stretcher.
“Is this how you protect the Li Clan?”
“It was indeed an accidental killing.”
“Never mind, this is already the best outcome. Let us consider it heaven’s will.”
“Your Majesty, please restrain your grief.”
“Restrain my grief?!”
Empress Li suddenly became angry, turned around, and forcefully pushed Xiao Yi, questioning, “The two people closest to me have both been brought back as corpses by you, and you advise me to restrain my grief? Are you trying to break me?”
Xiao Yi’s stance remained as firm as a mountain, but his body swayed with the momentum, preventing her from being thrown off by the counterforce.
Empress Li’s eyes were red, but she did not cry. Her gaze held hostility and stubbornness.
“Do you know why I haven’t been broken yet? Because I still have another child—this Great Han dynasty. Do you want to help Guo Wei seize it? Never!”
Xiao Yi knew she was enduring a series of immense pains. He understood her occasional loss of composure; in fact, he was surprised she hadn’t collapsed yet.
He remained silent, expressing understanding through his gaze, until Empress Li also regained her composure.
“The dynasty is not anyone’s child. Emperors and generals, humble laborers, all are mere dust in history. The common people are the dynasty. Therefore, wherever the people’s hearts lie, that person will rule the dynasty.”
“Heh, if I were a man, would Guo Que’er dare to rule the dynasty?”
“Your Majesty is no less capable than any man.”
Empress Li turned back, sat on the low couch, regaining her dignity and authority as the Empress Mother, and said calmly, “I will not pursue the matter of you killing Li Ye. Fourth Brother was momentarily foolish…”
“I will intercede for Li Hongjian.”
“Summon the palace servants.”
Soon, Xiao Yi summoned Wang Yan and several eunuchs.
“Draft an imperial decree,” Empress Li said calmly. “I, with my meager virtue, have suffered a family misfortune. My younger brother, Li Ye, harbored malicious intentions and attempted assassination in the palace. Let this be proclaimed to the world, to clarify his crimes. His act of parricide is unforgivable by heaven and earth. The Commander of the Inner Palace Guard, Xiao Yi, bravely defended the throne, his loyalty and courage commendable. He is to be rewarded with thirty qing of imperial farmland in the outskirts of Tokyo. Additionally, a pair of secret-colored lotus bowls from Jiangnan tribute, a set of brocade saddle, and ten bolts of Lianzhu Shu brocade are granted.”
Xiao Yi understood the implications of these rewards.
Everyone wanted farmland in the capital region. Empress Li knew she couldn’t keep it for long, so she generously gave it to him. However, his low seniority would make it difficult to secure it, potentially leading to conflict with others under Guo Wei’s command.
The other rewards, on the surface, were a display of honor. Tribute items were not for the use of imperial relatives or high officials. A brocade saddle would be visible whenever one rode out, and brocade clothing could only be worn in official settings by those of the third rank or higher. With these, Xiao Yi could display his nobility everywhere and appear as a confidant of the Empress Dowager.
The grand reward decree would also dilute the consequences of Li Ye’s death. The person was dead, and the matter was settled.
“Xiao Yi, are you not offering your thanks?”
“Your subordinate thanks Your Majesty for her grace.”
“I am tired.”
“Your subordinate takes his leave.”
Accompanied by the eunuchs carrying Li Ye’s corpse, they exited the Empress Dowager’s tent.
Wang Yan said with a smile, “This old servant will deliver the imperial decree to the Central Secretariat tomorrow, and General Xiao will be able to receive his reward.”
“Thank you.”
Xiao Yi looked back at Empress Li’s tent.
In fact, the moment she said the dynasty was her child, he had anticipated her final decision.
He wrote a letter overnight and sent someone back to the capital, detailing what had happened and delivering the strategy to quell rebellion in the various prefectures.
At the hour of chen the next day, the funeral procession began its return journey.
Traveling by horse-drawn carriage was much faster; within an hour, they had covered ten li.
During a rest stop, Xiao Yi went into the woods to relieve himself and returned to the procession, where a palace servant by Empress An’s side was waving to him.
Approaching, the palace servant did not dare to alight from the sedan chair and said in a low voice, “General Xiao, please come closer.”
Seeing her mysterious expression, Xiao Yi leaned in.
Then he heard her say nervously.
“The Empress has a private need.”
Xiao Yi was taken aback; he didn’t understand. Looking at their expressions, he realized what it meant—a basic human need.
This was a perfectly normal trivial matter, but before the imperial ancestral shrine had been visited and mourning rites completed, the two empresses could not be seen with their feet touching the ground.
He said in a low voice, “This matter is for the palace servants to handle.”
“It is for me to handle, but I’ve never left the palace before, and this portable sedan chair is difficult for me to use; it’s so heavy.”
“Give it to me.”
“Thank you, General. Please set it up over there, then ask your men to step away, and also, could you dig a pit? And please, whatever you do, don’t tell anyone.”
Xiao Yi glanced at An Yuanzhen. She sat there, once again playing the role of the decorative empress, as if nothing had happened the previous night.
She had caused him to sleep late last night. Seeing her like this, he deliberately asked.
“Does the Empress require a large pit? Or a small one?”
“You…”
An Yuanzhen was furious, glared hatefully at Xiao Yi, and turned away.
Xiao Yi did not make things difficult for her. He ordered the cordon to be expanded by thirty paces and arranged for a windbreak tent for the imperial relatives to rest.
He went to the rear and set up the portable sedan chair, digging a large pit with his ceremonial sword.
The palace servant quickly led the sedan chair over, spread out carpets, hung curtains, and lit incense. It was quite a commotion.
After they finally resolved their private need, Xiao Yi did not fare well. As the palace servant passed him, she bowed and apologized with her eyes, cursing him on behalf of the Empress.
“Why dig such a big hole?”
After another hour of travel, they entered the city, performed sacrifices at the imperial ancestral shrine, and completed the mourning rites.
Escorting the imperial carriages of the two empresses into the gate, they finally completed this unlucky task.
The soldiers let out a roar.
“It’s more tiring than fighting a war!”
“My feet are covered in blisters…”
“No complaining! Eat, rest, and continue training after the latter half of the day!”
Xiao Yi, without delay, went to see Guo Wei.
He had brought Li Ye’s corpse and two captives; the brothers Li Hongyi and Li Hongjian also followed to offer their apologies with thorns and sacks.
The Guo Residence gate was bustling with carriages and horses. He intended to announce his arrival, but the gatekeeper gestured for him to proceed directly to the main hall.
Upon entering, Wang Pu hurried out to meet him.
“Young Master Xiao has achieved new merits again.”
“I dare not claim merit; I almost made a mistake.”
“Last night’s events had a significant impact. The Lord has already summoned the members of his staff to discuss it and asked you to enter directly. Come.”
Wang Pu, a hearty man, put his arm around Xiao Yi and pulled him into the main hall.
In the hall, Guo Wei sat in the center with his legs crossed, while Wei Renpu, Wang Jun, Wang Yin, He Fujin, Li Rong, Li Chongjin, and others were seated in order.
“Greetings, My Lord.”
Guo Wei laughed, “No wonder they say this kid is lucky; he achieves merit wherever he goes.”
“Being fond of the limelight is not a good thing,” Wang Jun turned to look, his eyes showing displeasure, and said, “You already knew Li Ye’s whereabouts, didn’t you? Did you deliberately let him go?”
Xiao Yi replied, “No, it was Li Hongyi who reported him.”
He explained the course of events and emphasized Li Hongyi’s act of righteousness in eliminating his own kin, stating that Empress Li had not agreed to a secret decree for Li Ye.
Wang Jun, holding the strategy document, said coldly after listening, “Li Hongjian should be executed as a warning to others.”
Xiao Yi asked, “If he is executed, who will dare to eliminate their own kin in the future?”
“Eliminating one’s own kin lies in the word ‘eliminate’.”
“Since Li Ye is dead, his life is extinguished, and his lamp is out.”
“Are you perhaps receiving rewards from Empress Li and speaking for the Li family?”
“If Minister Wang thinks so, then you have fallen into Empress Li’s scheme. Your strategy is inferior to a woman’s.”
“Enough.”
Guo Wei pointed at Xiao Yi and rebuked him, “You boy, your words are unpleasant to hear.”
Turning to Wang Jun, he adopted a different tone.
“Brother Xiufeng, let’s not quibble over such a small matter. Let’s continue examining this strategy. Li Ye, though ambitious, lacked the ability, but he had some insights.”
Wang Jun said flatly, “The strategy is well-written, but he couldn’t achieve it.”
“Li Ye couldn’t do it, but Liu Yun might be able to.”
Saying this, Guo Wei walked to the map.
Everyone gathered around.
Xiao Yi’s gaze fell on the map, and the situation became clear.
To the east, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yunzhou formed a small triangle, with small flags labeled “Military Governor of Wuning Army, Liu Yun,” “Military Governor of Taining Army, Murong Yanchao,” and “Military Governor of Tianping Army, Gao Xingzhou,” respectively.
To the south, Xuzhou, Shenzhou, and Xiangzhou formed a large triangle, with flags labeled “Military Governor of Yi Cheng Army, Liu Xin,” “Prefect of Shen Prefecture, Ma Duo,” and “Military Governor of Shannan East Circuit, An Shenqi,” respectively.
These two triangles formed points, and along with Hedong, they formed an even larger triangle, encircling Kaifeng.
Li Ye’s strategy was to construct a triangular offensive.
Therefore, Guo Wei’s response should be to break the connections between the various feudatories.
“Li Ye could conceive of this strategy to unite the prefectures, and Liu Yun could do the same. Tell me, how should we respond?”
Wang Pu spoke first, saying, “The key to the enemy’s strategy is ‘uniting the prefectures.’ The countermeasure should be to divide them.”
“I think we should strike first and defeat them one by one,” Li Rong said. “An Shenqi dared to send people to the capital to abduct a woman, which must mean he has ulterior motives. Why not dispatch a great general with five thousand elite troops to station in Dengzhou and see if he dares to act recklessly!”
“That is not advisable,” Wang Pu said. “Our army’s strength is dispersed in Ye Du, Kaifeng, and Chan Prefecture. If we further divide our forces into unnecessary places, it will lead to defeat.”
“According to your scholar’s opinion, what should be done?”
“My Lord should write a letter to An Shenqi, promising to enfeoff him as the King of Nanyang if the great undertaking is successful.”
“Foolish opinion.”
It was Wang Jun who spoke, his tone resolute, saying, “An Shenqi has managed Shannan East Circuit like an iron barrel. If we promise him the title of King of Nanyang today, tomorrow he will become too powerful to control and carve out Jingxiang for himself. Should we attack him or not?”
Wang Pu did not shy away from him, saying, “Minister Wang only sees An Shenqi’s strength but not his weakness. First, he is fifty-six years old, and his son has not yet come of age. If My Lord grants him a stable title, he will undoubtedly accept it gladly for the long-term future of his children. Second, although Xiangzhou is prosperous, it borders the pseudo-state of Nanping. If he secedes, he will face the enemy alone. Can he truly secede?”
“Scholar’s opinion,” Wang Jun rebuked. “Even if An Shenqi is willing to comply, his subordinates may not be. If proud and fierce generals support him in declaring independence, will he be able to control them?”
“There are matters of priority. The Liu Clan is the enemy at present. Once the general situation is stabilized, My Lord can calmly strip him of his military power.”
Wang Jun’s attitude was firm, and he rebuked, “If we grant him the title of King of Nanyang, it will be even more difficult to control him in the future!”
The hall fell silent.
Xiao Yi thought for a moment, stepped forward, and spoke for the first time during the discussion.
“My Lord, I believe Brother Wenbo’s words have merit.”
“What insights does this young brat have?”
“It doesn’t matter, let’s hear it.”
Xiao Yi pondered, “According to what I’ve learned from Empress An and the captives, An Shenqi is a person of sentiment but not great ambition, of promises but not strategy. Granting him a royal title will satisfy him and prevent the danger of secession.”
“What makes you say that?”
“He has stationed his guards within the Control Crane Guard. If he harbored ill intentions, he could have these men do many things, but he only ordered them to bring his daughter back to Xiangzhou, and his arrangements were not particularly clever.”
Wang Jun said, “Your reasoning is even more laughable than Wang Wenbo’s.”
Wei Renpu said, “My Lord, since An Shenqi cares about his daughter, he will not act rashly. Why not offer him generous rewards to prevent him from siding with Liu Xin?”
Wang Jun, seeing that he couldn’t win the argument, said, “We can first offer him the title of Acting Grand Tutor and Chancellor, and clearly state that if he assists in suppressing Liu Xin, he will be enfeoffed as King of Nanyang after the New Emperor ascends the throne. This way, we give him hope and gain his assistance. If he does not send troops, we will have justification for a punitive expedition later.”
Wang Pu frankly said, “Minister Wang, why are you so stingy?”
Xiao Yi immediately agreed, saying, “Your subordinate also believes Minister Wang… Since we are going to offer rewards, we should make him sincerely submit, so he knows My Lord’s magnanimity is far beyond that of the Liu clan.”
Guo Wei rebuked, “Wang Wenbo, you speak without restraint.”
“I spoke too quickly; I apologize to Minister Wang.”
Xiao Yi almost agreed with Wang Jun’s assessment of stinginess, but thankfully, he quickly corrected himself.
Guo Wei pondered for a moment and said, “What if we grant An Shenqi the title of King of Nanyang? And tell him that once the situation in the capital region stabilizes, I will send someone to return his daughter home. The daughter of a hero should not be buried with a defeated ruler.”
