Before the Mingju Hall at the Han residence, a gust of wind passed, leaves rustling and falling, heralding the approach of late autumn.

“Han Qian was disloyal and unfilial! To lure Gu Zhilong to take the bait, he didn’t hesitate to use me, Second Uncle, and Grandfather as bait. I, Second Uncle, and Grandfather knew nothing beforehand! Han Qian harbors old grudges and wanted to use this opportunity to eliminate Second Uncle and me!”

With Yuan Guowei beside him in the great hall, Han Jun could only give a unified account of the various stratagems used to capture and force Gu Zhilong to make peace. But the resentment in his heart couldn’t be dispelled. Having finally made it home with great difficulty, how could he not pour it all out?

“What?” Han Duan held a lowly official position, but today he had been specially summoned into the hall to participate in the great banquet. He hadn’t expected that everything was even more complex than imagined—he hadn’t expected Han Qian’s wolfish ambitions to be even more sinister than imagined!

“I understand,” Han Daoming’s face was grim as water, without much change, as if all this was within his expectations. He only stared at his son Han Jun and nephew Han Duan, saying: “This matter—we Han family members knowing it is enough. Not half a word must leak to outsiders!”

“Why?” Han Jun was unwilling, like a wounded beast, roaring in a low voice. “We suffered some grievances, but that’s one thing—don’t tell me we should also keep the Dowager Consort and His Highness in the dark?”

“If the Dowager Consort and His Highness want to know this matter, they naturally will know, but this matter absolutely cannot be reported to the Dowager Consort and His Highness by us,” Han Daoming pressed on the armrest of his grand tutor’s chair and said. “At this moment, His Highness needs a ‘Tutor Han’ who is utterly loyal to him, needs a famous general and strategist who wholeheartedly plans and acts for Yueyang. At the same time, at this moment His Highness needs to show Han Qian his unreserved trust. If you expose this matter at this time, do you really think you’ll gain favor before His Highness and the Dowager Consort?”

“Your son understands!” Han Jun nodded through gritted teeth, indicating he knew the stakes. Now no matter what, recovering Jinling and assisting His Highness to succeed to the throne and ascend must be paramount. All other conflicts were secondary. If he got entangled in these matters at this time, it would be failure to understand the times.

“Uncle, the situation won’t always be like this, will it?” Han Duan asked.

“Correct,” Han Daoming nodded and said. “At least until His Highness returns to Jinling to succeed to the throne and ascend, you must all keep this matter buried in your bellies! Those household soldiers who went to Jinling—whoever dares gossip behind the scenes, beat them to death!”

“Understood.” Han Duan nodded, then asked: “Han Qian’s concubine just gave birth to a son in Xuzhou. We didn’t have time to send someone to congratulate them for the full moon celebration—should we prepare a generous gift for the hundred-day celebration?”

“That’s not necessarily required,” Han Daoming shook his head and said. “If one day his achievements overshadow his lord and he becomes like Han Xin to the Han Emperor, we have no need to suffer punishment along with him…”

…

…

“The Shenling Bureau has raised so many people all these years, yet they let this upstart gain fame—and this boy was once under your control!”

From deep within the great hall of Cishou Palace, Dowager Consort Wang Chan’er’s voice drifted out, revealing undisguised sarcasm.

Chun Shisanniang sat beside the brocade couch, her eyes shadowed as she looked at Palace Envoy Lü Qingxia sitting on the brocade couch opposite.

Although Dowager Consort Wang Chan’er had been an insignificant figure in the Jianghuai branch back then, today she was the Dowager Consort, and when Yueyang’s great army captured Jinling City and Yang Yuanpu succeeded to the throne and ascended, she would be the lofty Empress Dowager.

To be honest, possessing such noble status and position, who would willingly submit to others at this time?

This would also make it increasingly difficult for them to make Wang Chan’er obediently follow orders.

Facing Wang Chan’er’s sarcasm, Lü Qingxia was completely indifferent, saying softly: “Xuanzhou has submitted, Yang Zhitang and Hongzhou have submitted. Next will be accepting the allegiance of Rao, She, and the prefectures of Fu, Ji, Gan, and Shao. The day when His Highness returns to succeed to the throne and ascend should not be far off. At that time, as the Great Chu Emperor who possesses both literary and martial strategies, brilliant military achievements, who pacified Anning Palace’s rebellion and subdued Prince Xin, the Dowager Consort should think about how high His Highness’s prestige will be? Not to mention having talented ministers and famous generals assembled in great numbers, with imperial clan members Yang Zhitang and his son Yang Fan assisting, civil and military officials Shen Yang, Zheng Chang, Zheng Yu, Zhang Chao, Han Daoming, Han Daochang, Han Qian, Li Zhigao, Zheng Hui, while Zhang Xiang, Du Chongtao and others who became famous long ago will also successively pledge loyalty before His Highness. At that time, even if His Highness still has the patience to tolerate a few women sitting behind a curtain pointing fingers and giving orders, I’m afraid Shen Yang, Yang Zhitang and these people absolutely couldn’t possibly sit by idly. And now don’t look at how the Zheng and Han families all depend on you, Dowager Consort, but they actually care the least. As long as His Highness doesn’t seize the benefits in their hands, they’ll change the fastest. Of course, the benefits in their hands were also won by the blood and flesh of the Zheng and Han family men—not all given by you, Dowager Consort. Maybe at this time they’re already tired of you, Dowager Consort. Only we who are the most incompetent, who would be nothing without you, Dowager Consort—we are the ones who most can’t bear to see you lose power, most can’t bear to see you one day no longer qualified to point fingers and give orders in court. We are the ones who truly and sincerely wish you well, Dowager Consort…”

Dowager Consort Wang Chan’er’s expression shifted between dark and light. She could continue mocking sarcastically at will, but these years of fearful days in the palace confinement had created a personality that was both paranoid and harsh, yet also made her forbearance and sinister cunning far exceed ordinary people.

Indeed, Yueyang was now overflowing with an atmosphere of enthusiastic joy, but this also meant Pu’er’s prestige and power were becoming increasingly exalted. Upon returning to Jinling, even counting on one’s toes one could imagine that even if Pu’er didn’t raise it, old scoundrels like Shen Yang would inevitably try every means to overthrow the current temporary system in Yueyang of dual respect for the Dowager Consort and Prince Tan.

At that time, could she count on Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Han Daoming, Han Daochang and their ilk?

Obviously not. The Zheng and Han families initially used her, hoping to suppress Shen Yang, Han Qian and others. Once the situation stabilized, the Zheng and Han families had both military achievements and prestige, with disciples and former subordinates throughout court and countryside, and controlled military power—where would they need to oppose Shen Yang, Yang Zhitang and these people for her sake?

“His Highness and the Dowager Consort have suffered so much these years—naturally he knows your difficulties, knows how good you’ve been to him. But we must also guard against too many people distorting the truth before His Highness.” Lü Qingxia continued speaking methodically for a while, then stood up and said: “Chun Niang and I won’t disturb your rest any longer, Dowager Consort…”

Chun Shisanniang followed the Palace Envoy out of the sleeping chamber. Looking at the narrow corridor leading deep into the class courtyard, she suppressed her voice and said: “It seems the Dowager Consort has been persuaded, but her temper is becoming increasingly irritable. I fear…”

“There’s nothing to fear. Hasn’t Han Jun returned? This time just don’t let him leave Yueyang.” Lü Qingxia said softly.

“Ah, the Palace Envoy has also noticed the telltale signs. I wasn’t certain, so I didn’t dare speak rashly.” Chun Shisanniang said with slight surprise.

“After getting a taste, she will understand even more clearly that being locked in the deep palace is not so easy to endure,” Lü Qingxia’s eyes flashed with a trace of cold light. “I won’t show my face before the Dowager Consort these two days to avoid being annoying. You must inform the Dowager Consort that Gu Zhilong and Yang Zhitang have pledged allegiance, and the great momentum of three armies advancing on Jinling has already taken shape. Marquis Li need not compete for power and influence with Han Qian in Xuanzhou. Although currently no one in Xinchang Marquis’s manor has sufficient prestige in Yueyang to command the Eastern Expedition Army, the Eastern Expedition Army on Yueyang’s side should still reserve a deputy commander position!”

“Chai Jian can’t be recalled from Shaozhou. Li Chong, Zhou Shu, and Zhou Yuan all lack sufficient prestige. When Yueyang forms the Eastern Expedition Army, don’t tell me we should use Li Zhigao as deputy commander?” Chun Shisanniang asked hesitantly.

“No matter how great the previous misunderstandings, Li Zhigao is after all Marquis Li’s adopted son. He has feelings for everyone. And His Highness currently trusts him sufficiently.” Lü Qingxia said matter-of-factly.

…

…

The day after the great banquet, Yang Yuanpu specially summoned Li Zhigao back from Ezhou and convened the various generals and officials in Chengyun Hall to discuss how to reply to the letters from Han Wenhuan, Li Pu, Han Qian, Yang Zhitang and others. This would directly determine Yueyang’s next strategic choices.

Separately designating Anji, Guangde, and Langxi counties to establish a Commissioner’s Office to settle the Chishan Army soldiers and their families—besides commending the achievements of the Chishan Army soldiers, and besides controlling the impact of Han Qian conscripting servants and slaves into the army and granting them land within a limited scope, this could also further consolidate Yueyang’s position on Jinling’s southern flank.

As long as the aristocratic clans of Xuanzhou and Lishui had no objections to this point, Yueyang’s side would have no objections.

Shen Yang, Zheng Chang, Zheng Yu and others all advocated canceling the designations of Chishan Army and Qiuhu Army and separately establishing the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office, commanding the Left and Right Guangde Armies. They proposed appointing Han Qian as Guangde Army Commissioner concurrently serving as Left Guangde Army Commander-in-Chief; appointing Gu Zhilong as Right Guangde Army Commander-in-Chief; appointing Xinchang Marquis Li Pu as Guangde Army Vice Commissioner concurrently serving as Xuanzhou Regional Inspector; appointing Zhang Ping as Surveillance Commissioner. At the same time, they would send envoys to order the regional inspectors of She and Rao prefectures to merge their provincial battalions into the Right Guangde Army, accepting Gu Zhilong’s command. They would also appoint Han Daochang as She Prefecture Regional Inspector and Fu Mo as Rao Prefecture Regional Inspector.

The three prefectures of Xuan, She, and Rao would temporarily all be under the command of the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office, so that Han Qian could command and deploy the troops and grain of these three prefectures, continuing to effectively check the Chuzhou Army, Southern Court Forbidden Army, and Shouzhou Army from the southern flank.

Regarding Li Pu being subordinate to Han Qian on the Guangde route, Zhou Yuan, Li Chong and others from Xinchang Marquis’s manor remaining in Yueyang, as well as the Dowager Consort, expressed no objections.

As for Prince of Yuzhang Yang Zhitang’s request to resign, that was of course just political theater of retreating to advance. The people of Yueyang couldn’t possibly actually seize the opportunity to take Yang Zhitang’s military authority.

Moreover, Yang Zhitang was Third Prince Yang Yuanpu’s cousin, a representative figure of the imperial clan. His allegiance would make Third Prince Yang Yuanpu’s succession even more legitimate and proper. Not to mention that the thirty thousand troops Yang Zhitang had assembled in Hong and Yuan prefectures would directly and substantially increase the Yueyang Army’s military strength.

Shen Yang, Zheng Chang, Zheng Yu and others deliberated and advocated establishing the Jiangxi Pacification Commissioner’s Office, controlling military and administrative authority over the seven prefectures of Jiang, Hong, Yuan, Gan, Fu, Ji, and Shao. They proposed appointing Yang Zhitang as Jiangxi Pacification Commissioner and General Commander of All Jiangxi Campaign Forces; appointing Marquis of Linjin Li Changfeng as Jiangxi Vice Pacification Commissioner and Vice General Commander of All Jiangxi Campaign Forces concurrently serving as Hongzhou Regional Inspector; appointing Zheng Chang to go south to Hongzhou to serve as Surveillance Commissioner.

The Jiangxi Campaign Forces would merge the six prefectures of Hong, Yuan, Gan, Fu, Ji, and Shao, organizing forty thousand troops to advance north along the western shore of Poyang Lake, pressing toward Jiang and Chi prefectures.

Naturally, Yueyang’s side as the main base would also need to mobilize.

Shen Yang, Zheng Chang, Zheng Yu and others advocated establishing the River Pacification Commissioner’s Office, with Zheng Yu concurrently serving as Acting Privy Council Envoy and Pacification Commissioner, Li Zhigao as Vice Pacification Commissioner, and Shen Yang as Surveillance Commissioner concurrently serving as River Transport Commissioner. Using the Left Dragon Sparrow Army and Five Fangs Army as backbone and conscripting local troops from the seven prefectures of Lang, Tan, Huang, Chen, E, Heng, and Shao, they would advance east along the Yangtze River, pressing toward the prefectures of Jiang, Chi, Shu, and Chu.

Since Zheng Yu, Shen Yang and others would all need to go to Ezhou with Li Zhigao in the near term to prepare military affairs, the official positions in the Yueyang Executive Secretariat would also undergo corresponding changes. First, Han Daoming would succeed Shen Yang as Executive Secretariat Left Vice Director and Acting Revenue Vice Minister, and together with Zhang Chao serving as Executive Secretariat Right Vice Director, they would jointly oversee Yueyang’s political affairs. Second, Zheng Hui would succeed Zheng Yu as Acting Privy Council Envoy, using the Right Dragon Sparrow Army as main force and working with Zhang Han serving as Yuezhou Regional Inspector and Yueyang Military Commissioner to jointly be responsible for defending this foundational territory of Yueyang.

Prince of Yuzhang’s heir Yang Fan would remain in Yueyang to serve as Vice Martial Virtue Commissioner, and together with Martial Virtue Commissioner Chen De, jointly be responsible for Prince Tan’s manor guard duties.

As for young generals like Li Chong and Zheng Xingxuan, as well as brave warriors from the Chenzhou Xi clan like Xi Shesheng and Xi Shepeng who pledged allegiance during the feudal reduction campaign, and commanders who pledged allegiance like Miao Yong and Gao Long along with their troops—all would be transferred out. This also included Han Qian’s direct subordinates in Xuzhou: Military Vice Commissioner Yang Qin and his naval battalion of one thousand soldiers with thirty warships of various sizes, all to be incorporated into the River Pacification Commissioner’s Office organization.

The River Pacification Commissioner’s Office, as the main force of Yueyang’s troops, planned to organize eighty thousand soldiers.

The great momentum had completely tilted toward Yueyang’s side. Not to mention Yang Zhitang—on Yueyang’s side, Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Shen Yang and others all understood military and administrative matters. In such a critical period determining Great Chu’s fate, how could their commitment possibly be timid and hesitant?

Since pacifying the Ma clan, Prince Tan Yang Yuanpu had been managing Hunan for nearly a year. At the same time, because the feudal reduction campaign had progressed extremely smoothly, the degree of destruction to local production was extremely minor.

Besides Chai Jian on the southern front retaining ten thousand elite troops to guard against rebels who had withdrawn to Yongzhou, and besides Yueyang retaining twenty thousand mobile forces, mobilizing eighty thousand troops to advance east at this time faced no great pressure whether in terms of soldiers or grain, weapons, warships and other aspects.

As for Zhang Xiang in Jingzhou and Du Chongtao in Xiangzhou, Yueyang at this time had no need to recruit them, but directly ordered Zhang Xiang’s forces to move west and Du Chongtao to leave Xiangzhou City and lead his forces into the Fangcheng defense line to the north. Besides guarding against possible movements by Shu and Liang armies, this was also to keep the main forces of Zhang Xiang and Du Chongtao farther from Yueyang.

Now whether Zhang Xiang and Du Chongtao pledged allegiance or not didn’t matter. After all, combining the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office, Jiangxi Pacification Commissioner’s Office, and River Pacification Commissioner’s Office, Yueyang could assemble one hundred sixty thousand troops, with surplus capacity to further recruit soldiers. Currently as long as Zhang Xiang and Du Chongtao behaved themselves without other disturbances and posed no threat of holding Yueyang back, that would suffice.

Moreover, even if Zhang Xiang and Du Chongtao submitted memorials pledging allegiance, Yueyang now couldn’t possibly withdraw all the border troops defending against the Liang and Shu armies to attack Jinling.