Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Yang Yuanpu waving his hand to dismiss two maidservants from the room, they stepped forward to pay respects to Yang Yuanpu and Princess Qingyang.

“When Han Qian was incorporating the remnants of Taowu’s military households, the situation was also perilous. It was impossible to imagine reaching today’s circumstances. Most people in Yueyang sought stability, but only you disregarded the dangers and were willing to rush to Jinling to assist—while in Yueyang I also heard about how you single-handedly recovered Anji, convincing the local clans and noble families of Anji to serve the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office, which was truly another great achievement. All along the way I’ve been thinking that when I reached Fanchang I must hear you speak of this in detail,” Yang Yuanpu sat before the brocade couch, indicating for Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo to move embroidered stools and sit down themselves. “I was just discussing this matter with Qingyang. I can’t sleep right now anyway, so tell me about it. The intelligence reports were ultimately too brief.”

Zhang Ping glanced at Princess Qingyang and said, “When Huzhou Prefect Huang Hua abandoned Anji, the Chishan Army had just captured Langxi with extremely heavy casualties. We also worried that Chuzhou Army elite forces might move south at any time, and Lord Han’s side couldn’t divide forces to cover the eastern front—at that time I simply thought that His Highness has the Mandate of Heaven. Even if Huang Hua had various cunning schemes and calculations, his admiration and awe toward His Highness should be genuine. So I brought several attendants and rushed to Anji. There really wasn’t any danger to speak of…”

Qingyang stood beside Yang Yuanpu, observing Zhang Ping’s gaunt features, one残臂 arm concealed within his sleeve. He appeared to be twelve or thirteen years younger than Jiang Huo—at an age that could be said to be in his prime, yet his temples were already graying.

Although Zhang Ping was a secret agent the Divine Tomb Agency had sent into the Huainan Military Commissioner’s Office years ago, later lying dormant in the palace for many years, Yang Yuanpu and the Dowager Consort both had such deep connections with the Divine Tomb Agency that using old Divine Tomb Agency connections naturally posed no obstacles whatsoever.

Moreover, in those early years sequestered within the palace, Yang Yuanpu and the Dowager Consort had relied on Zhang Ping’s secret care and support to endure until the clouds parted and the mist cleared.

Initially, Qingyang had worried that Zhang Ping would be more loyal to the Dowager Consort and Marquis Xinchang Li Pu, always carefully guarding against this. But though Zhang Ping had served as Supervisor several times seemingly without opportunities to independently control military power, he still had considerable achievements.

Zhang Ping’s advancing eastward to Jinling to join Han Qian under such harsh conditions this time could be said to show extraordinary courage. After arriving in Jinling, even if his performance wasn’t as dazzling as Han Qian’s, it was still much more commendable than Li Pu’s.

From the intelligence reports Zhang Ping sent back to Yueyang, he conducted himself relatively fairly. And from Li Pu’s secret letters containing many criticisms of Zhang Ping along with other signs, it could be seen that Zhang Ping’s distance from the Dowager Consort, Li Pu, and that Lu Qingxia beside the Dowager Consort was growing ever greater.

Qingyang believed Yang Yuanpu also had this recognition. That’s why without much ceremony, he kept Zhang Ping on guard duty at his side. In the future after entering Jinling city, this person would also be heavily relied upon within the inner court.

Although Jiang Huo and Yuan Guowei appeared more reliable, when speaking of capability and reputation, Zhang Ping was more suitable to preside over the Palace Attendants Bureau—unless after taking control of Jinling, Yang Yuanpu made major changes to the Palace Attendants system.

Yang Yuanpu clearly didn’t just want to hear Zhang Ping’s account. After brief consideration, he said again, “The attacks on Chizhou and Nanling can’t be said to have gone very smoothly. And Anning Palace rebel forces in Jinling city still have over seventy thousand infantry and cavalry troops plus nearly twenty thousand naval forces. Contact with Chao, Chu and other prefectures on the north bank hasn’t been severed. With the situation so complex, I need someone at my side who can help provide strategic planning—in your view, would it be better to continue having Han Qian serve as Guangde Army Commissioner commanding eastern route forces, or to keep him at my side providing strategic planning for the entire war situation?”

Zhang Ping knew that at this moment, rather than His Highness genuinely seeking his opinion, he was using this matter to test his attitude. He wondered whether His Highness still felt he and Han Qian had gotten along too harmoniously in Langxi and Guangde?

Even if Li Pu hadn’t privately stirred up trouble when meeting His Highness earlier, Zhang Ping at this time couldn’t possibly speak his mind bluntly like some hot-blooded youth.

Moreover, separating Han Qian from the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office at this time was something His Highness had already firmly decided—beyond his power to change. Why would he invite bad luck or violate taboos now?

He felt Han Qian should accomplish more for Great Chu, but good steel must be used on the blade’s edge. Constantly speaking up for Han Qian everywhere, constantly defending Han Qian—this would not only cause trouble for Han Qian but would also drag himself down first.

After pondering briefly, Zhang Ping said, “His Highness personally leading Yueyang forces to press toward Jinling city—the western route is the main attack direction, while the eastern route has become a flanking force. At the same time, the eastern route must shield the grain route from the two Zhe regions into Jingzhao Prefecture, ensuring grain and fodder can be transported timely and sufficiently into all camps. This requires stability, requiring a mature and steady general to preside. Lord Han excels at strategic planning. Keeping him at His Highness’s side to serve would enable him to establish even greater merit!”

“Haha, you’ve spent considerable time with Han Qian and should understand him well.” Seeing Zhang Ping also support him, Yang Yuanpu laughed happily. Only now did he speak somewhat more from the heart and ask, “Han Qian says after the war he wants to return to Xuzhou to continue mourning. Do Feng Liao, Feng Yi, Kong Xirong, Lin Haizheng and others have any thoughts about this?”

Qingyang also stared intently at Zhang Ping. This question was crucial—she wanted to see how Zhang Ping would answer.

Zhang Ping chose his words carefully: “Even after recovering Jinling, the war in Jianghuai won’t be pacified. Feng Liao and others more or less feel Lord Han should prioritize the overall situation. Keeping filial piety in one’s heart is the greatest filial piety—”

Qingyang nodded inwardly, thinking Yang Yuanpu should be satisfied with this answer. She felt secretly that even if Han Qian had thoughts of advancing by retreating, at least he hadn’t yet communicated with his close confidants.

If Feng Liao, Feng Yi, Kong Xirong, Lin Haizheng and others all regarded Han Qian’s claim of withdrawing to Xuzhou after the war with calm composure and unruffled tranquility, wouldn’t that make His Highness even more vigilant?

……

……

The grand council was set for the afternoon. Han Qian arrived early at the county office converted into a temporary command post to pay respects to Prince Tan.

Morning mist pervaded the city, with even heavier fog on the river surface.

Although heavy fog wasn’t favorable for sailing ships, it was more conducive to concealing movements. There was no guarantee that Anning Palace, already without a way out, might not act desperately. Security inside and outside the city became doubly tense.

“Since youth, my temperament has been contrary, fond of using cunning schemes and dangerous stratagems. As years gradually increased, I’ve gradually understood this can only win temporary victories. Without grand battle formations, without an august imperial army, commanding troops long-term makes soldiers’ hearts restless. Once encountering strong cities or formidable enemies, great harm will surely result. Capturing Langxi was extremely fortunate. Afterward upon reflection, I grew fearful. For consecutive months I haven’t dared battle strong enemies again, exhausting my mental energy, unable to eat in peace or sleep soundly. I can no longer adequately serve as Guangde Army Commissioner. I request His Highness appoint another worthy person. During the siege of Jinling, I can remain behind His Highness providing strategic counsel, contributing my slight strength. Seeing my late father’s great enmity avenged would suffice to comfort my heart. After capturing Jinling city, please allow me to return to guard Xuzhou and report to my late father’s spirit in heaven…”

At the small-scale morning audience, Yang Zhitang, Shen Yang, Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Li Pu, Han Daoming, Zhang Chao, Zhang Ping, Li Zhigao, Li Changfeng and others were all present. Han Qian sat behind a long table in the inner hall’s side row, turning his body obliquely to formally request resignation from Yang Yuanpu as Guangde Army Commissioner.

Han Qian had deliberated with Xi Ren until midnight yesterday, thinking this speech would allow everyone’s dignity to pass smoothly. After all, in everyone’s minds he was someone fond of using dangerous schemes, fond of taking unconventional paths—under circumstances where the overall situation was settled, he was also the type of person least needed, right?

After loudly speaking these words, seeing Yang Yuanpu’s eyebrows raise slightly as if secretly breathing a sigh of relief, Han Qian wasn’t surprised. Yang Yuanpu was after all taught by him. Even if his confidence was now sufficient, how could he possibly have no apprehension about him?

Han Qian again glanced at Shen Yang and others’ faces, thinking that although Yang Yuanpu hadn’t discussed this beforehand with Shen Yang and others, after Yang Yuanpu revealed this intention yesterday, Shen Yang, Zheng Chang and others more or less must have worried he wouldn’t know when to advance or retreat and would stir the situation into something more delicate, right?

Of course, the expressions of Yang Zhitang, Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Zhang Chao, Li Changfeng and even his uncle Han Daoming all showed relief at this moment—imaginably they had long found him disagreeable. Only Li Zhigao and Shen Yang still had their brows slightly furrowed—who knew whether they felt things shouldn’t be like this, or felt things wouldn’t stop here?

Having reached this step, everyone involved countless people’s interests and lives behind them. Probably there was no longer possibility of getting along intimately as before, right?

Seeing Han Qian look his way, Shen Yang averted his gaze but sighed quite inadvertently. Seeing everyone’s reactions, he knew that even if this matter was somewhat unexpected, it had essentially passed.

The grand council originally scheduled for this afternoon would not only determine route choices and coordination issues for the three routes of forces converging to press toward Jinling, but would also preliminarily confirm some matters regarding His Highness entering Jinling city to ascend the throne.

And speaking of His Highness’s enthronement, naturally the reshuffling of Great Chu’s power structure couldn’t be avoided.

When His Highness reached Chizhou and joined Yang Zhitang and Zheng Yu, the two had already indicated they wanted to return to His Highness’s side, handing battlefield command authority to Li Zhigao, Li Changfeng, Gao Chengyuan, Guo Liang and other generals.

This was also quite normal. Since His Highness had now personally arrived at Fanchang city, authority over command, appointment and deployment of all military units, soldiers, armor, grain, fodder, money and grain naturally all had to concentrate in his hands.

For Yang Zhitang, Zheng Yu and others, apart from assisting Yang Yuanpu in commanding the final battle well, reorganizing and allocating power in the Three Departments, Six Ministries and Nine Courts was where their interests would focus next.

Shen Yang had to admit that under current circumstances, His Highness transferring Han Qian to his side for strategic planning actually wasn’t too abrupt. But what he thought was that if His Highness’s apprehension toward Han Qian wasn’t so deep, Han Qian was actually more suitable than Li Zhigao to serve as commanding general for siege operations below Jinling city.

Of course, Shen Yang didn’t feel having Li Zhigao command the final siege battle was particularly inappropriate either, so naturally he wouldn’t speak up about it now.

The atmosphere in the small hall was somewhat delicate and oppressive. But Shen Yang, Zheng Yu and others, even Han Daoming, showed no intention of stepping forward to dissuade Han Qian, seeming to feel such arrangements were normal. Yang Yuanpu also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Pressing his hand on the long table, he looked toward Han Qian and said, “I truly need Teacher Han to remain at my side for strategic planning so my confidence can be more firm. But even after capturing Jinling, many matters will be in complete disarray with everything needing revival. I still need Teacher Han to remain in the capital to assist me…”

Han Qian thought privately that insisting now on returning to Xuzhou to continue mourning would seem somewhat petulant, right? Moreover, even if just for show to others, Yang Yuanpu would urge him to stay.

No matter what, the ritual of “three requests and three refusals” had to be completed before it conformed to propriety!

Han Qian cursed inwardly but at this time set this point aside, neither confirming nor denying, leaving everything until after capturing Jinling to discuss.

Next they needed to discuss new arrangements for the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office after his departure.

This was a newly inserted agenda item, yet also one that must be resolved immediately.

Yang Yuanpu naturally first inquired Han Qian’s opinion.

Han Qian didn’t want to display a sense of loss or resentment. Looking toward Li Pu, he cupped his hands and asked, “Would Marquis Li be willing to bear more hardship?”

Li Pu was Guangde Army Deputy Commissioner. With him remaining in Fanchang city, it stood to reason he should comprehensively preside over Guangde Army Commissioner Office affairs.

Seeing Han Qian kick the ball to him, Li Pu waved his hands repeatedly:

“I think constantly about serving at His Highness’s side. I don’t plan to go back this time either!”

After His Highness revealed that intention outside the city yesterday, Li Pu had tossed and turned last night unable to sleep soundly.

Apart from being unable to fathom Han Qian’s reaction, he was also considering—if Han Qian agreed to relinquish control of the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office and remain at Yang Yuanpu’s side, where should he go?

At dawn, truly unable to sleep and unable to make a decision, Li Pu ran to ask Wen Ruilin for counsel.

Wen Ruilin then advised that as long as Han Qian could recognize the times and resign as Guangde Army Commissioner, he should also resign as Guangde Army Deputy Commissioner and remain at Yang Yuanpu’s side.

The reasoning explained was actually quite simple.

Not to mention the Yanjiang Pacification Army and Jiangxi Pacification Army—the main garrison locations of the Left and Right Guangde Armies were at most just over a hundred li from Fanchang city.

At such close distance, a fast horse could make a round trip in one day.

This meant that after Han Qian relinquished authority, all three routes of forces would be under Yang Yuanpu’s direct command.

For Li Pu to now compete for the Guangde Army Commissioner position—a post without much real power that would most likely be abolished after the war—while completely leaving reorganization of the Three Departments, Six Ministries and Nine Courts to Yang Zhitang, Zheng Yu, Shen Yang and others to handle—wouldn’t that be foolish?

Seeing Li Pu unwilling to take charge of the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office, wanting to resign as Guangde Army Deputy Commissioner to remain at Yang Yuanpu’s side serving, Shen Yang cleared his throat and said directly, “Perhaps now is the time to abolish the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office…”

To solve this problem swiftly and decisively, there seemed to be only this one answer.

Dismantle the power structure where the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office previously commanded the Left and Right Guangde Armies, administered Anji, Guangde and Langxi counties, and controlled Xuan, She and Rao prefectures—directly implementing separation of military and civilian administration.

Establishing the Three Departments, Six Ministries and Nine Courts involved extremely broad scope and couldn’t be accomplished suddenly. But for smooth development of subsequent warfare, Shen Yang had always advocated first establishing the Privy Council, placing all deployment of troops and grain under the Privy Council framework for handling, with Prince Tan Yang Yuanpu serving concurrently as Privy Council Commissioner before formally ascending the throne.

This was also the consensus Shen Yang had reached with Yang Zhitang, Zheng Yu and others these past days—first ensuring great power concentrated in Prince Tan Yang Yuanpu’s hands.

After dismantling the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office, the Left and Right Guangde Armies could be directly incorporated under Privy Council administration and deployment.

Due to the special circumstances of Anji, Guangde and Langxi counties, these three counties could be separately listed out, treated as a special prefecture, also temporarily placed under Privy Council jurisdiction. A mature and steady person could be dispatched to serve as “Participant in Military Virtue Affairs,” continuing to work with Chen Jitang, Ji Xiyao and others Han Qian left behind to handle women and children settlement and support, with needed grain and money uniformly allocated by the Privy Council.

As for Xuan, She and Rao prefectures, like Jiangxi prefectures and counties and Hunan prefectures and counties, they would all be incorporated under Branch Secretariat governance.

Shen Yang even advocated similarly canceling the Jiangxi Pacification Commissioner’s Office’s command authority over Hong, Jiang, Chi, Xin, Fu, Gan and other prefectures at this time.

With the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office dismantled, not only was there no need to dispatch someone to replace Han Qian—Li Pu and Zhang Ping could both return to Yang Yuanpu’s side to serve.

As for the Left Guangde Army’s three elite units, promoting Lin Haizheng to serve as Deputy Supreme Commander for unified command of one route of forces would suffice.

Even though he had long prepared to relinquish military authority after the war, having the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office directly dissolved now left Han Qian somewhat caught off guard.

However, seeing Yang Yuanpu, Shen Yang and others all look toward him, Han Qian could only suppress the bitterness in his heart and say with an apparently pleased expression, “Master Shen Yang’s proposal is excellent…”

“But who would be best to preside over the three counties’ affairs?” Zheng Yu asked thoughtfully.

Hearing Zheng Yu say this, Li Pu gladly suggested, “I think Shezhou Prefect Han Daochang is quite familiar with the three counties’ affairs. He’s also Han Qian’s uncle. Having him preside over the three counties, he should be able to coordinate seamlessly with Chen Jitang, Ji Xiyao and others Han Qian left in the three counties to handle settlement of hundreds of thousands of women and children well.”

Shen Yang advocating to directly dismantle the Guangde Army Commissioner’s Office now was handling public affairs according to principle, the best way to swiftly solve the three counties problem. But hearing Li Pu’s words slip out, his heart skipped anxiously. Yet before he could open his mouth to refute Li Pu’s suggestion, he heard Yang Yuanpu already directly asking Han Qian:

“Teacher Han, what do you think?”

“Although they say recommend the worthy without avoiding relatives, this matter—I really shouldn’t presumptuously comment. Please let His Highness decide.” Han Qian suppressed the impulse to grit his teeth, still saying with a placid expression, as if his heart in this moment had not a trace of ferocity.

“Since Teacher Han doesn’t object, then transfer Han Daochang to temporarily preside over the three counties’ women and children settlement affairs!” Yang Yuanpu also ignored that both Shen Yang and Li Zhigao showed intention to dissuade, decisively making the decision.

……

……

Time passed like a white colt through a gap. Discussing various matters, half a day’s time passed. Everyone simply ate something in the rear residence, then it was time for the afternoon grand council.

Yang Yuanpu needed to change into formal python robes and arrange his appearance. Han Qian, Shen Yang and others first moved to the front office main hall to wait.

As more people arrived in the afternoon, the small county office main hall quickly became crowded to capacity.

Fortunately, quite a portion of officials had already left Fanchang yesterday, each returning to their garrison camps and fortifications. Otherwise the small county office front hall couldn’t accommodate so many people.

The grand council was much more formal than the morning deliberations. It could also be said to be a preliminary court assembly before the new emperor’s enthronement. Officials arranged themselves by seniority, with Yang Zhitang, Li Pu, Han Wenhuan, Shen Yang, Zheng Yu and others at the fore, standing in order in divided rows within the hall.

The Han family had Old Master Han as representative, positioned before the civil and military officials’ ranks. Han Qian resigned from both Guangde Army Commissioner and Left Guangde Army Supreme Commander positions. As従四品下 Xuzhou Prefect and Prince Tan’s Mansion Consultant Participant in Military Affairs, he would have to stand roughly in the corner near the door with people like Wang Lin and Wen Ruilin.

Fortunately, Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo, responsible for grand council order, really couldn’t bear to watch and arranged for him to stand below Li Zhigao.

Standing among the crowd, Han Qian observed with an icy heart everyone’s reactions within the hall.

Wu Zun, as Hangzhou Prefect, had earlier been demoted from Vice Minister of Revenue. Before the Jinling incident he already held正四品上 rank. Hangzhou was also a superior-superior prefecture—within Great Chu’s territory, its status was much higher than the remote Xuzhou.

Xiuzhou Prefect Chen Fan’s rank was slightly lower, but he and Huzhou Prefect Huang Hua temporarily remaining in Yangjiang were in-laws through their children.

Wu Zun, Chen Fan, along with Gu Zhilong who submitted earliest and Fu Mo who came out of retirement to serve as Raozhou Prefect due to merit in persuading surrenders—these four stood in the main hall, could be said to represent Jiangdong noble family forces.

Even if Jiangdong noble families couldn’t be considered the Third Prince’s direct lineage, apart from Huzhou troops led by Huang Hua and Right Guangde Army led by Gu Zhilong, subsequent grain and fodder for attacking Jinling would still mainly be gathered from Hang, Hu, Xiu, Qu and other prefectures, using tens of thousands of civilian laborers to continuously transport via the northern foothills of Fuyu Mountain into Langxi and Xuancheng, then from Langxi and Xuancheng onward to supply various military camps.

Watching Wu Zun and Chen Fan standing quite composedly in the opposite row quietly discussing something with Gu Zhilong, after the new emperor’s enthronement, their positions wouldn’t be lacking.

Prince of Yuzhang Yang Zhitang and his son Yang Fan represented the imperial clan and Jiangxi prefectures’ noble family forces.

Even if Yang Zhitang returned to Yang Yuanpu’s side to serve, handing command of the original Jiangxi Pacification Army troops to Marquis Linjin Li Changfeng, the Jiangxi Pacification Army primarily composed of Hong and Yuan prefecture troops—their commanders and battalion commanders were all direct lineage Yang Zhitang had selected from Hong and Yuan prefecture noble family sons.

Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Zheng Hui, and Zheng Xingxuan—father, sons, uncles and nephews, four people—could be said to represent noble families from Huangzhou and surrounding prefectures and counties.

Zhang Chao represented noble family forces from Lang, Tan and other Hunan prefectures that had submitted.

Zhang Chao and his cousin Zhang Han seemed weak and isolated, merely forced to submit during the削藩 war, without many illustrious achievements. But after Hunan Branch Secretariat was established, various branch offices, departments and bureaus needed urgent establishment. They could only select over a hundred literate sons from noble families in Langzhou and Yuezhou who had submitted and weren’t too deeply involved with the Ma clan to serve as administrators.

These people naturally regarded Zhang Chao and Zhang Han as leaders.

Yang Yuanpu taking control of Jinling needed to reorganize the Three Departments, Six Ministries and Nine Courts. Most officials who had betrayed to Anning Palace needed purging. It was also very difficult to select sufficient civil officials from各地. Naturally they would still need to transfer a batch of familiar administrators from Hunan Branch Secretariat.

This also directly determined that Zhang Chao and Zhang Han brothers’ future power and influence would definitely not be weak.

Of course, within the main hall, Marquis XinchangMansion’s people were still most numerous.

After Li Yu died of illness, figures from Prince of Zhedong’s mansion like Li Changfeng and Li Xiu—if they had no ambition or willingness to establish independent factions—naturally would also stand together with Marquis Xinchang’s mansion.

Adding Li Pu, Li Zhigao, Zhou Yuan, Li Chong, Gao Long, Li Sui, Deng Tai, Wen Ruilin and others, Marquis Xinchang faction figures already占 at least a full third of the people in the main hall on the surface.

Of course, this still required Marquis Xinchang Li Pu having ability to hold these people together.

Speaking of the grand council, actually many matters had already been discussed by Yang Yuanpu with Shen Yang, Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Yang Zhitang and others before entering Fanchang. Now they were announced for everyone to discuss.

First was how to organize the final battle to attack Jinling.

The plan Yang Yuanpu and Shen Yang, Zheng Yu, Yang Zhitang preliminarily discussed was to use the Yanjiang Pacification Army as primary force, continuing to advance by water and land along the Yangtze’s south bank, passing through Dangtu and Caishi step by step to press toward Jinling city from the southwest direction.

The Right Guangde Army would enter east of Maoshan, join with Huzhou troops, then primarily be responsible for recovering Jiangcheng county at the southern foot of Baohua, pressing toward Jinling from the east.

After the Right Guangde Army advanced eastward, the重任 of pressing toward Jinling from the south from Nanling to Lishui would be borne by the Jiangxi Pacification Army.

Thus achieving military encirclement of Jinling from three sides.

The war was divided into two stages. The first stage was占領 and清理 enemy-occupied城池 and fortifications surrounding Jinling, with the three routes of forces respectively having Li Zhigao, Li Changfeng and Gu Zhilong as commanding generals. The second stage was pressing to below Jinling city walls, with Li Zhigao as commanding general統領 and調度 attacking Jinling affairs.

Additionally there was establishment of the Privy Council and Policy Deliberation Hall.

The Privy Council was a military-political institution. The previous dynasty had established the Policy Deliberation Hall under the Chancellery, serving as the place where chancellors deliberated policy and where政令 issued forth.

Establishing the Privy Council and Policy Deliberation Hall at Fanchang city represented that before capturing Jinling, the new Chu court replacing it already had rudimentary form.

Specific departmental bureau establishments and personnel selections had also already been discussed by Shen Yang, Yang Zhitang, Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang and others on the way to Fanchang city.

The Policy Deliberation Hall would have Shen Yang, Zheng Yu, along with Zhang Chao, Han Daoming, Zheng Chang, Wu Zun and others as Left and Right Vice Ministers and Participant in Governmental Affairs. For the Privy Council, Yang Yuanpu would personally serve as Privy Council Commissioner, with Yang Zhitang, Li Pu, along with Chen De, Han Qian, Li Zhigao, Li Changfeng, Zheng Hui, Gu Zhilong, Gao Chengyuan, Chai Jian, Huang Hua, Zhou Yuan and others as Left and Right Deputy Commissioners and Consultant Participants in Military Affairs.