On the eighth day of the tenth month, the coffin of the Emperor of Yan was hastily interred in a makeshift imperial mausoleum built outside Jianzhou.
Shen Suzhuang had not yet reached his thirtieth year, and had been in reasonably good health day to day — no one would have been so reckless as to suggest, “Your Majesty, shall we go ahead and build an imperial mausoleum here in Jianzhou? Just in case Your Majesty passes before we make it back to the capital.”
No one was keen to invite their own early death.
And so the imperial mausoleum in which Shen Suzhuang was interred — whether in terms of the scale of the tomb or the rites of the burial procession — was the most meager and modest of any emperor since the founding of Great Yan.
The coffin was sealed and the mausoleum closed. Every palace attendant who had dressed and prepared Shen Suzhuang’s body on that day vanished without a trace afterward. The true cause of Shen Suzhuang’s death was something no one dared to pursue.
Shen Suzhuang was dead. But a nation cannot be without a ruler for even a single day — someone still had to sit on the dragon throne.
After the imperial capital had been breached and the rebel army had massacred the Shen imperial family in great numbers, Shen Suzhuang was the only surviving imperial son. There were still some more distant members of collateral branches — but whether they dared take the seat was another matter entirely.
While Fu Xuanmiao was still in the Jianzhou palace conferring with his ministers over which candidate from the imperial collateral branches should succeed as the next Emperor of Yan, the very people on that list were falling over one another to declare they were given to drinking, gambling, and debauchery — morally unfit to hold the position — or that they were stricken with grave illness and on the verge of death. No matter how many times Fu Xuanmiao summoned them — three times, four times, five times — their answers never changed.
Their reasons were many and varied, but all amounted to the same thing: beat me to death if you like, but I will not come sit on this throne.
On the tenth day of the tenth month, the ministers knelt at the gates of the Fu Manor. The surviving members of the Shen imperial family spoke as one, begging Fu Xuanmiao — the most trusted and capable pillar of the late Emperor’s court — to shoulder the burden of reviving Great Yan.
The gates of the Fu Manor remained shut for two days. The ministers ate and drank nothing. Fu Xuanmiao, unable to bear watching his aging colleagues endure such suffering, went out to persuade them to leave — only to be seized upon by the crowd, who took the opportunity to drape the yellow imperial robe over his shoulders.
Fu Xuanmiao declined repeatedly, but the assembled voices were too fervent to resist. He still took up residence in the palace on this tenth day of the tenth month. His mother, Fang Shi, was also welcomed into the imperial harem and honored with the title of Empress Dowager.
The enthronement ceremony was set for three days later. At the new Emperor’s insistence, the enthronement rituals were to be entirely simplified. Common people had no way of knowing the full details of the ceremony — only through word of mouth did they learn that the new Emperor had sworn a vow before the Shen imperial clan and civil and military officials alike: once he brought back the Princess of Yue, he would name the Princess as Empress, and name the son borne by the Princess as Crown Prince, thereby returning the throne to the Shen imperial bloodline.
The first imperial edict issued by the new Emperor commanded every military governor across the country to raise their troops and converge to suppress and annihilate Li Wu.
Even if the capital officials and the Shen imperial clan right under Fu Xuanmiao’s nose recognized him, it still wasn’t enough — whether he could hold this position securely depended on whether the regional military governors who wielded real power in the provinces would rally to his cause. Whether this edict carried any weight was of critical importance to Fu Xuanmiao’s governance going forward.
It was equally critical to whether Li Wu could turn the tide against him.
The news of Fu Xuanmiao’s enthronement reached Yangzhou two days later, on the day of the Lower Prime Festival.
In Yangzhou in previous years, every household on this day would set up incense tables, offering glutinous rice balls filled with vegetarian fillings, pan-fried tofu, and green onion flatbreads. Come evening, the whole family would eat their fill and go out to make offerings to heaven, placing folded paper celestial robes and tin foil silver ingots into white paper bags, then bowing and burning them as gifts for the ancestors in heaven.
But this year’s Lower Prime Festival in Yangzhou was quite unlike years past — unnervingly quiet. Even those who had come out to make their offerings wore expressions of restless, simmering dread on their faces.
No one knew when the army that would come to attack Yangzhou would set out.
Anxiety gripped every heart.
The Princess of Yue’s manor, funded by the Bai Family, had become the primary venue for the Blue Phoenix Army’s war council meetings. A table laden with glutinous rice balls and rice wine served as the backdrop for the Blue Phoenix Army’s chief commanders, who were now gathered together, deliberating over what to do next.
“Fu Xuanmiao now holds direct command over at least four hundred thousand troops, and on top of that, there are the regional forces throughout the country that may answer to his orders. If we in Yangzhou rashly go to battle, there is little hope of survival.” A general with a full beard spoke in a gravelly voice.
“Then what do you suggest?” Li Wu asked.
“Our only hope lies in holding Yangzhou and nothing more.”
“That can last for a time, but not forever.” Shen Zhuxi frowned as she spoke up.
This was the Princess’s manor — it was perfectly natural for her to appear at the war council table. There was certainly no logic in asking the owner of the house to stand aside. Shen Zhuxi hadn’t understood this at first, but after sitting in on a few councils, she finally grasped the deeper purpose behind Li Wu’s choice to hold the war councils in the Princess’s manor.
The south, compared to the north, had never been bound so tightly by rules of propriety — and this was her home besides. They were holding council on her grounds, which gave her every right to offer a word or two. There was no reason not to.
What was more, Shen Zhuxi was knowledgeable about the people’s circumstances and had a rough grasp of military writings — the suggestions she raised often carried considerable weight. Little by little, the generals had even grown accustomed to waiting for her to identify gaps in the plan and speak up.
“What are Your Highness’s thoughts?” the bearded general asked in turn.
“The Blue Phoenix Army’s main force is in Jinzhou. Though they are numerous, their equipment is poor. To go up against the well-armed Yan army would place us at a serious disadvantage. Even if we could hold our own, Jinzhou is too far from Yangzhou — by the time Jinzhou could send reinforcements, Yangzhou might not be able to hold on that long.” Shen Zhuxi said.
Bai Youkeng looked at Shen Zhuxi with an approving gaze. “I agree with what the Princess says. To pit the small against the great, simply holding the line won’t be enough.”
“To take the offensive, we need troops. Where are we going to get troops from?” The bearded general said, dissatisfied.
“What does Your Highness think?” Bai Youkeng said encouragingly, looking toward Shen Zhuxi.
“We don’t have them — but we can borrow them.” Shen Zhuxi said. “Fu Xuanmiao has committed endless wrongdoings. There must be many who are unwilling to submit to his command.”
“Exactly.” Li Wu, who had been listening for a while, spoke again. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. When you all voted for the number-one dog in the world — did you also come up with a runner-up?”
Bai Youkeng ignored his second remark and said: “The Haifang Military Governor, who falls within Yangzhou’s jurisdiction, has a longstanding relationship with the Bai Family. The man is fond of money and women — he’s worth approaching.”
Bai Anji, seated beside Bai Youkeng, thought for a moment and said:
“As long as we offer enough in tribute money, I’m confident I can bring him over to our side.”
Shen Zhuxi thought it over and added: “The Cangheng Military Governor, Kong Ye, is a veteran minister trusted by my late father. If I personally go to persuade him, I believe I can secure his support.”
“And then there’s the Wuying Military Governor, Chunyu An.” Li Wu said with complete certainty. “If he’s the type to let Fu Xuanmiao sit on top of his head, I’ll write my name Li Wu backwards.”
“Chunyu An has long harbored rebellious intentions,” Shen Zhuxi reminded him. “But he has a grudge against you — or have you forgotten?”
“All I did was borrow a little bit of his military supplies — I’ll pay it back with interest!” Li Wu said.
Shen Zhuxi paused and decided not to remind him in front of everyone — he had not only raided the Wuying Army’s grain and weapons, but had also killed Han Fengnian’s most valued strategist’s younger brother, Han Fengyue, who was the advisor Chunyu An prized the most. A blood debt like that was unlikely to be settled with a bit of interest.
“Then it’s decided.” Li Wu said. “The Bai Family handles the Haifang Military Governor. The Princess handles the Cangheng Military Governor. I’ll handle the old dog of Wuying.”
Li Wu declared it with complete confidence, and the matter was settled then and there.
Yangzhou was merely one node in his overall plan. To engage Fu Xuanmiao — who controlled the entire military force of Great Yan — with their current strength would be like throwing an egg against a stone. The most urgent priority Shen Zhuxi had raised at the war council was to seek out allies.
Allies don’t fall from the sky. It would be very difficult for others to trust the sincerity and strength of the Blue Phoenix Army on the strength of a single envoy, a letter, and a token alone.
The following day, the Blue Phoenix Army split into three groups. The team led by Bai Anji — flush with financial resources — set out with large quantities of gold and silver to knock on the Haifang Military Governor’s door. Shen Zhuxi brought along a group of Yangzhou’s finest artisans and embroiderers, along with many books on weaving and winemaking, and set off in an imposing procession to call on the Cangheng Military Governor. And as for Li Wu — Shen Zhuxi had no idea where his confidence came from. He brought neither gold nor grain; after a private talk with Bai Anji, he lingered in Yangzhou for another three days before eventually setting off for Dongdu, the seat of the Wuying Military Governor, loaded up with several large cartloads of local Yangzhou specialties that weren’t worth much of anything.
The first to begin negotiations was Bai Anji, who was responsible for the Haifang Military Governor. Haifang’s seat was in Suzhou, not far from Yangzhou — it took only a few days by boat. Upon meeting the Haifang Military Governor, Bai Anji first presented the Princess of Yue’s phoenix seal and made clear the purpose of the visit. Then, as a member of the Princess’s maternal family, after pledging a substantial sum to cover military expenses, the Haifang Military Governor — just as the Bai Family had predicted — was the first to respond to the call and join the anti-Fu coalition.
Next was Shen Zhuxi, who received a warm welcome the moment she entered Chuzhou. The Cangheng Military Governor, Kong Ye, a white-haired elder, burst into tears the moment he laid eyes on Shen Zhuxi. Before her carriage had even come to a stop in front of him, he had already knelt down in full and respectful reverence.
“Elder Kong, there is no need for such ceremony — please rise quickly!”
The moment the Phoenix carriage drew up before him, Shen Zhuxi immediately stepped down to help the old man to his feet.
Kong Ye looked at Shen Zhuxi, too overcome with emotion to speak, tears streaming without end, his hands trembling without cease.
Seeing him like this, Shen Zhuxi could not help but feel a lump rise in her own throat.
In the years since she had left the palace, she had seen no shortage of monsters and demons — yet how rarely had she encountered a truly steadfast minister, loyal to Great Yan through and through.
Great Yan was vast — and yet for all the road she had traveled, she had found only one Kong Ye.
One aging man, half a body already in the earth, still weeping bitterly for the fate of Great Yan.
She had almost no chance to speak the persuasive words she had prepared. Kong Ye gave his answer before she could:
Cangheng, top to bottom, awaits Your Highness’s command.
Not only that — Kong Ye voluntarily offered to act as an intermediary and persuade his close friend of many years, the Jihai Military Governor Jiang Xinchuang, to join the anti-Fu coalition as well. Shen Zhuxi was of course more than willing, and they agreed that she would remain in Chuzhou for three days, waiting for Jiang Xinchuang’s reply before immediately setting off for Jihai’s seat in Xuzhou.
Three sides had now become two. If Jiang Xinchuang could be brought in, all the better — and if not, at the very least she needed to persuade him to remain neutral for the time being and not enter the fight too soon.
Now all that remained was to wait for the outcome on Li Wu’s end.