Many people knew that Empress Dowager Changxin Palace was no simple woman. Since the new emperor’s ascension, her edge had gradually become sharper, but no one expected that her attack at this moment would leave Yang Zhitang completely defenseless.

Zheng Yu originally had no major conflicts with Yang Zhitang, but Yang Zhitang’s current fixation on continued delay would only push Huangzhou and the Zheng clan into irredeemable ruin—something he absolutely could not accept.

At this moment, Zheng Yu did not spare any effort in kicking a man when he was down. Looking toward Shen Yang, Yang En, and Du Chongtao, he pressed them: “Whether to open trials on the treason cases now, whether to make peace or war with the Liang army—Shen Yang, Marquis Yang, Marquis Du, you gentlemen must make a decision at this time!”

Zheng Yu did not even look toward Zhang Chao, nor did he think Zhang Chao would oppose his opinion. And indeed, Zhang Chao stood to the side, looking expectantly toward Shen Yang, Yang En, Du Chongtao and the others.

The situation was very clear. Once Jing and Xiang fell, with Lang and Chen prefectures west of Dongting Lake sandwiched between Xuzhou and Jing-Xiang, even a ghost could know that Han Qian’s next step would inevitably be to deploy troops to seize Langzhou and Chenzhou.

During the campaign to reduce the feudal lords, the Zhang family led five thousand local militia in surrendering to the late emperor and gained重用 重用重favor. This destined the Zhang family never to be any kind of hardline war faction, even though Zhang Han currently served as one of the most important generals of the Imperial Guard.

They preferred more that the Mengwu and Eastern Liang Army beat Han Qian bloody and broken-boned. Having them fight themselves was somewhat of a joke.

Since the thirteenth year of Tianyou, had Great Chu produced anyone more fierce or more brilliant than Han Qian?

Never mind Han Qian—how many generals could Great Chu now select who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Li Zhigao, Wen Bo, and Li Xiu?

Yang En, Shen Yang, and Du Chongtao sighed inwardly. Seeing Empress Dowager Changxin holding the new emperor’s hand, still appearing furious with no intention of returning to sit behind the imperial desk, they steeled themselves and said: “If we do not prosecute the treason cases, High Ancestor Emperor and the late emperor will not rest peacefully in the netherworld. And if Heluo falls into barbarian hands, this would also not be Great Chu’s fortune. Accepting Liang’s submission as a vassal state, having them guard the northern frontier, might be a blessing…”

“Have you ministers all thought this through clearly? This dowager is not forcing you?” Qing Yang asked.

“We have thought it through clearly. We request the Empress Dowager issue the decree,” Shen Yang and the others said.

“Besides having Zheng Chang lead the Censorate ministers in prosecuting the traitors, appoint Zheng Yu and Cai Chen as the peace negotiation ministers. You several can hear their reports on matters, but do not directly interfere in this matter anymore,” Qing Yang completely ignored Huang E’s existence, directly and arbitrarily issuing the decree. Seeing Yang Zhitang open his mouth wanting to say something, she gave him no opportunity to speak: “You need not explain anything to this dowager, a mere woman. No one can prevent you from entering the ancestral temple—go explain yourself before the memorial tablets of your Yang family ancestors…”

Yang Zhitang’s old face flushed red. Fortunately, he was not too old, or he might have fainted from anger on the spot. But at this moment he could only steel himself and call out “This old minister receives the decree,” then flee in utter embarrassment toward the ancestral temple to apologize to the dead.

……

……

Returning to the great hall of Changxin Palace, Qing Yang felt an indescribable exhilaration and excitement from striking hard at Yang Zhitang. But amid the exhilaration, she also sensed an unhideable trace of exhaustion.

Watching Bin’er, who had sat idly for half a day in Chongwen Hall, return to Changxin Palace, read in the side hall for a while, then fall asleep, Qing Yang sighed softly. She walked to the bookcase, opened the hidden compartment, and took out the letter.

This letter was full of meaningless characters. Hearing footsteps behind her, Qing Yang turned to see Lei Cheng entering and said: “Your lord’s calligraphy is truly ugly…”

Han Qian’s calligraphy did indeed lack skill. No wonder in earlier years some people said he was unlearned and unskilled. Lei Cheng coughed awkwardly and said:

“Though the warships on Aoshan Island were all burned, the eight thousand soldiers were only temporarily trapped on the island and were not annihilated. During negotiations, the Empress Dowager can issue a decree charging Zhou Dun and others with the crime of failing to defend and losing military forces, stripping these men of their command positions. Then have Zheng Xingxuan draw military officers from the Imperial Guard to receive these troops, formally incorporating them into the Imperial Guard ranks. However, before this matter, the Empress Dowager should first see Zheng Chang have Censorate officials submit memorials impeaching Prince Shou Yang Zhitang for repeatedly attempting to make peace with the Mengwu—this will create a mortal feud between the Zheng family and Prince Shou.”

Yang Zhitang was deeply entrenched. Impeachment might not necessarily bring down Prince Shou Yang Zhitang, much less that Shen Yang, Du Chongtao, and Yang En might not wish to see Yang Zhitang fall. But incorporating the Aoshan Island remnant forces under the Imperial Guard to rebuild a naval force subordinate to the central authority—Shen Yang, Du Chongtao, and Yang En would not refuse this.

Of course, doing this was mainly to force the Zheng family and Prince Shou Yang Zhitang into complete opposition, making it impossible for the Zheng family to change their position on peace negotiations again.

Qing Yang put away the letter, glanced at Lei Cheng, and asked: “Could the Zheng family also be your people?”

Lei Cheng smiled wryly: “If the Zheng family could be used by our lord, how could matters be this complicated?”

“That’s true. But even if the Zheng family is threatened by you this time and forced to turn to support peace negotiations, Huangzhou remains under threat from Huaixi. How could they possibly be willing to form a mortal feud with Yang Zhitang?” Qing Yang slightly furrowed her delicate brows, asking in puzzlement: “What benefits have you secretly promised them?”

“Without the Empress Dowager’s permission, we have not yet contacted the Zheng family. But our lord has agreed to publicly release the true formula for the plague-dispelling wine,” Lei Cheng said.

“So the news that the Right Crimson Sparrow Army’s southern expedition forces in Lingnan have accumulated over three thousand disease casualties from plague and miasma since spring and summer—this is not false?” Qing Yang asked.

“Indeed not false. The plague-dispelling wine was the foundation for our lord and the former lord to establish themselves in Xuzhou. If our lord wishes to restore trade with Great Chu without showing true sincerity, it would only make things difficult for the Empress Dowager…” Lei Cheng said.

Qing Yang knew the Zheng family desperately needed the plague-dispelling wine formula. Zheng Yu presiding over peace negotiations would inevitably mention this matter.

As long as it was the real formula, even if publicly released, the Zheng family would currently benefit most.

Otherwise, Zheng Hui would find it difficult to preserve the territory already occupied in Lingnan at this time. If he withdrew to Yongzhou in disarray with a pile of sick and wounded, the impact on military morale and spirit would be too great. Subsequently garrisoning Yong, Shao and other places, they would also face retaliatory counterattacks from the Qingyuan Army.

Qing Yang pondered for a moment, then said: “The Zheng family currently has no choice but to lean toward peace negotiations, and Han Qian being able to produce the plague-dispelling wine formula can indeed force the Zheng clan to publicly break with Yang Zhitang. But this entire matter cannot be decided by the Zheng clan alone. Han Qian producing just this one thing is far from enough, isn’t it?”

“Of course. If peace negotiations are concluded before mid-July, both sides will demobilize border forces, lift martial law and military mobilization, restore trade, reduce transit taxes. Besides submission, Great Liang can also annually tribute goods including cotton cloth and iron materials totaling one million strings in value…” Lei Cheng said.

“Reducing transit taxes—Shen Yang and Yang En will not agree to this, will they?” Qing Yang said with furrowed brows.

“The monopoly sales and maritime trade taxes and transit taxes of the prefectures and counties nominally fall under the Salt and Iron Transport Commission’s jurisdiction. But in fact, after deducting local prefecture and county interception, removing local clan monopolies, removing official embezzlement, how much can the central authority ultimately gather into its hands?” Lei Cheng said. “Now we’re only reducing what local prefectures and counties intercept, what officials embezzle, and what local clan forces evade through various means in maritime trade and transit taxes. The taxes that should actually be collected will be concentrated in Great Chu’s central authority. Shen Yang and Yang En cannot fail to see the advantages and disadvantages here. Moreover, Great Liang will inevitably purchase salt from Jianghuai. The profit of one thousand coins per shi of salt can also be directly paid to the central authority. And if the Empress Dowager truly does not wish to have Shen Yang, Yang Zhitang, Du Chongtao and these people interfering, during peace talks you can stipulate that these tributes should all be managed by the Palace Domestic Service. Money and grain are the essence of power. Only with money and grain to reward merit and punish crime can you have direct followers and loyal supporters, have people and forces at your disposal. Otherwise, even the Palace Domestic Service establishing prisons must borrow prison supervisors and punishment officials from the Censorate and Court of Judicial Review. How could the Empress Dowager make the generals and ministers below obey commands absolutely rather than paying lip service while acting contrary?”

“This dowager understands. Everything depends on how Zheng Yu and Cai Chen negotiate,” Qing Yang said.

“Naturally. This old servant is only informing the Empress Dowager of our lord’s thoughts in advance…” Lei Cheng said.

……

……

Since peace negotiations were decided upon, Han Wenhuan, Han Daoming, Chen Jingzhou, Feng Yi and the others were no longer rebel prisoners but Liang envoys. They also could not continue imprisoning Wang Wenqian and Yin Peng in the Palace Domestic Service prison.

Wang Wenqian and Yin Peng returned to Lanting Lane near nightfall. The residence had been in chaos for several days already.

Lady Xu and other family members and servants, though not arrested into the Palace Domestic Service prison, had also been ordered to remain in the residence without leaving. Jingzhao Prefecture soldiers constantly watched from all sides. Even taking out the few valuables to bribe the guards and sending word to Prince Xin’s manor for help received no response. Hearing that the entire Han manor had been arrested only made Lady Xu and the other women more anxious and confused, not knowing what to do.

Finally enduring until Wang Wenqian and Yin Peng were released, the women in the courtyard wept continuously.

The soldiers outside withdrew. Wang Wenqian had just started to instruct the household to buy two jugs of wine when he heard the rumble of carriages and horses in the lane.

Lady Xu, like a startled bird, hearing the dense hoofbeats stop outside the residence, her face instantly turned deathly pale.

After a moment, the household servant guarding the gate came in to report: “The eldest son of Vice Minister Chen, Chen Yuanchen, has brought people seeking an audience…”

As Vice Minister of War, Chen Jingzhou had his dignity. Not only had he not evacuated to the northern bank beforehand, even his two sons and family had remained in Jinling City all along. First they were placed under house arrest, then after the Tangyi navy attacked Aoshan Island, besides the slave servants who continued to be confined to the residence, over twenty family members including children and nephews were all imprisoned together in the Palace Domestic Service prison.

Wang Wenqian had thought that even if Han Daoming and Chen Jingzhou were released, they might need to wait some time before they could attend to matters here. He did not expect Chen Yuanchen to come so quickly.

Chen Jingzhou had four sons. His eldest died in battle, his second died young before reaching adulthood. Chen Yuanchen was his third son, already married with children, now over twenty-five years old.

After Chen Jingzhou no longer commanded troops, Chen Yuanchen also followed him as an official to Guangde Prefecture, later transferred back with him to serve as an official in the Ministry of War. Only Chen Jingzhou’s youngest son, Chen Jixian, had always lived with clan family in the old Chen family stronghold in Canglang County. Only when Canglang City faced crisis and stronghold forces were driven from Junzhou did most of the Chen family relocate to Guangzhou and Huozhou. Chen Jingzhou then brought all family members to Jinling City.

Wang Wenqian had the household invite Chen Yuanchen inside. Chen Yuanchen, just released from the Palace Domestic Service prison, rushed to Lanting Lane. This was indeed at Han Daoming’s instruction, hoping to immediately escort Wang Wenqian and Yin Peng to the Han manor:

“Yang Zhitang spoke improperly today in Chongwen Hall, wanting to make peace with the Eastern Liang Army so Yang Yuanyan could lead troops to attack Chuzhou. He suffered the wrath of Empress Dowager Changxin. In the end, ministers Shen Yang, Zheng Yu, Zhang Chao, Yang En and others decided to open peace talks with Great Liang. But matters still have complications, and there’s no guarantee some people won’t become desperate and use underhanded methods. Please, Lord Wang and General Yin, move to the Han manor tonight. Father and the old lord have discussed and hope that before formal peace talks begin, besides the peace envoys, we can send everyone else to the northern bank.”

Regardless of whether Han Qian had mentioned Wang Wenqian and Yin Peng’s disposition in his letters, if Han Wenhuan did not raise it, Han Daoming, Chen Jingzhou, and Feng Yi could not possibly sit by and watch Wang Wenqian and over ten others here fall into danger—after all, Wang Wenqian was the biological father of Great Liang’s Imperial Consort Wang Jun, and Wang clan members Wang Yuan, Wang Zhe, Wang Yan, Wang Tang, Huo Li, Huo Xiao and others had successively assumed important positions in Great Liang.

Wang Wenqian was unclear what reaction Yang Yuanyan would have when news of peace talks reached Chuzhou. He also did not know what kind of scene Empress Dowager Changxin’s reprimand of Yang Zhitang had been. But he knew this was not the time to maintain lofty airs.

The residence did not have many valuables. Slaves and servants willing to follow them to the northern bank were all brought along. Those unwilling to leave their homeland were all returned their indentures. The few assets were distributed to them, so they could seek out relatives and friends and not be without means.

Hastily packing up, Wang Wenqian and Yin Peng’s family of over ten people rushed to the Han manor in the moonlight to first meet with Han Wenhuan, Han Daoming, and Chen Jingzhou.

Though formal peace talks had begun, the soldiers surrounding the Han manor had not decreased. Deep in the night, there were even two teams of heavily armored elite soldiers patrolling the adjacent lanes. However, in name they had changed from “guarding prisoners” to “protection.”

Chen Yuanchen brought people to Lanting Lane to escort them over. A team of Jingzhao Prefecture soldiers accompanied them, but at least they were no longer prohibited from entering and leaving the Han manor residence as before.

Under the illumination of two bright horn lanterns casting dim yellow light, the black sandalwood gate of the Han manor with its rows of copper studs displaying the residence owner’s distinguished status appeared particularly somber.

Chen Yuanchen stepped forward to knock. Inside, someone opened the black sandalwood ceremonial gate but did not fully open it. The side door creaked open, and a young general about twenty-three or twenty-four years old wearing armor walked out.

Wang Wenqian recognized this person as one of the household soldier recruits Han Qian had originally enlisted from refugees when he first made his fortune in Lanting Lane. His name was Lu Ze, one of the youngest among that batch of household soldiers. Though his reputation was not as loud as Zhao Wuji, Guo Que, Lin Zongjing, Guo Nu’er, He Liufeng and others, these past years Lu Ze had been responsible for the internal guard forces within the Han manor in Jinling. Wang Wenqian guessed he was a core figure of Tangyi’s Secret Service in Jinling.

After Han Qian succeeded as Lord of Great Liang, the weapons and armor of over a hundred military guards at the Han manor had all been confiscated. After the Aoshan Island attack, Lu Ze had also been detained together with Feng Yi and others.

Now seeing Lu Ze walk out from the Han manor wearing armor and carrying sword and bow, Wang Wenqian could confirm that Liang and Chu had truly begun peace negotiations.

Returning their weapons and armor, and having Lu Ze guard the residence armed, was equivalent to acknowledging the Han manor’s status as Great Liang’s embassy—this principle had been established when Han Qian served as envoy to Shu to facilitate Shu-Chu peace talks.

Looking through the side door at the very dim light in the courtyard, which appeared even more somber, Wang Wenqian stared at the threshold with deep emotion in his heart. He knew that once he stepped across, he would no longer be a Great Chu subject…

……

……

Family members and women were led by someone to settle in the side courtyard. Wang Wenqian and Yin Peng followed Lu Ze and Chen Yuanchen to Mingju Hall, where they saw Han Wenhuan, Han Daoming, Chen Jingzhou, Yun Puzi, Feng Yi, Wen Ruilin and others sitting in the front of the hall.

“Wenqian has also suffered this time!”

Han Daoming and Chen Jingzhou rose to greet them. Regardless of past grievances and entanglements, from now on they were one family not speaking as two. Han Wenhuan also smiled warmly, gesturing for Wang Wenqian to sit beside him and talk.

“I only suffered some fright,” Wang Wenqian said.

Though Wang Wenqian had made up his mind to settle in Liyang after crossing the river, with no intention of going to Luoyang together with everyone, in his heart he still cared about the Heluo situation. At the same time, he also hoped Yin Peng could have a good future. Thus he did not avoid suspicion. After exchanging courtesies with everyone, he and Yin Peng walked behind the long table to sit on the floor.

When deciding to deploy troops to destroy the Aoshan Island naval base, they had considered that the monitored Han Wenhuan and others would be detained. But Wen Ruilin had gone into hiding in advance to evade Chu army surveillance and continue presiding over Secret Service work in Jinling.

Only after Han Wenhuan and others were released from the Palace Domestic Service prison did Wen Ruilin return to the Han manor.

Now that Wang Wenqian and Yin Peng had moved into the Han manor with their families, they were no longer outsiders. Wen Ruilin patiently explained the changes in the situation on both banks these past days, as well as the specific circumstances of today’s Chongwen Hall court deliberation disputes among Shen Yang, Yang Zhitang, Zheng Yu, Yang En and others:

“Zhou Dun was cowardly in battle, immediately ordering all warships to withdraw to the Aoshan Island naval base. We can say we destroyed over two hundred large and small warships on Aoshan Island without bloodshed, burning half of Yang Zhitang’s accumulated naval assets of recent years to ashes—these past days we’ve used warships to blockade the eight thousand remnant soldiers of the Right Dragon Martial Army on Aoshan Island. Since the naval base barracks and warehouses were all burned, we expect the first step in peace talks will be their demand that we release these eight thousand remnant troops. We can take this opportunity to demand they first send the old lord to the northern bank…”

That Wen Ruilin and Han Wenhuan could know the court deliberation situation at any time undoubtedly indicated they still had extremely reliable hidden agents and informants at the highest levels of the Chu court. Wang Wenqian was not surprised by this. That the Zheng family’s attitude changed before and after was even more within his expectations.

At bottom, since Emperor Tianyou established the Chu state in Jianghuai, he had never fundamentally resolved the conflicts and opposition of interests between different internal groups. Since last year’s palace coup, the two most elite combat groups—the Xiangbei Army and Tangyi Army—had successively separated from Chu. Wang Wenqian secretly felt that even Prince Xin Yang Yuanyan, who resolutely voiced calls to deploy troops to recover Huaixi, as well as Ruan Yan, Zhao Zhen and others, actually had no confidence in their hearts. No wonder Yang Zhitang dared not commit the Right Dragon Martial Army to desperate battle.

Of course, Empress Dowager Changxin’s sharp attack on Yang Zhitang today surprised Wang Wenqian greatly. He did not know whether Han Qian had secretly reached an offensive and defensive alliance with Empress Dowager Changxin. But since he had decided to establish a private academy in Liyang to spend his remaining years after crossing the river, such confidential matters were truly inappropriate for him to inquire about.

After resting one night, the next morning Zheng Yu and Cai Chen received the decree and entered the Han manor, formally representing Great Chu in opening the peace negotiation process. But before Zheng Yu and Cai Chen raised conditions, Han Daoming first demanded that Han Wenhuan, Yun Puzi, Chen Jingzhou, Wang Wenqian and others be allowed to send their families to the northern bank rather than continuing to be detained as hostages in Jinling. Matters of peace talks could be represented by him, Feng Yi, Wen Ruilin and others remaining in Jinling on behalf of Liang.

The Pacification Army’s ninety thousand troops were garrisoned at Xiang, Fan, Ying and Sui. At this time the situation seemed not tense.

However, over ten thousand Liang cavalry had assembled within Dengzhou (Nanyang Basin) territory. Besides Aoshan Island, the Tangyi navy had also formally occupied several sandbars in the Yangtze River north of Ezhou, cutting off contact between Fuzhou and Ezhou and Yuezhou.

If entering July and August, the Liang army and Li Zhigao’s forces continued to increase military pressure on Xiang and Fan, while provisions from Jiangxi and Hunan could not be transported across the river northward for a long time, the Pacification Army’s situation would inevitably become severe.

If they had determined to use military force in early March, at that time Zheng Hui and the Right Crimson Sparrow Army could have withdrawn from Lingnan in time. Delaying until now, not only had disease greatly increased in the Right Crimson Sparrow Army camp, but in Yong, Gui, Liu and Qin prefectures the weather was extremely hot, rivers had surged, roads were destroyed and ruined. They could not withdraw even if they wanted to. How could Zheng Yu be willing to see Huangzhou embroiled in warfare at this time?

He also inclined toward showing sincerity in peace talks once decided. Facing Han Daoming’s request, he returned to the Department of State Affairs in the afternoon and fought hard. Finally it was decided to first allow Han Wenhuan, Yun Puzi, Chen Jingzhou, Wang Wenqian and others to cross the river to the northern bank.

On June 11th, Han Wenhuan, Yun Puzi, Chen Jingzhou, Wang Wenqian and their families and attendants—over two hundred people—boarded a sailing ship at Jinghai Gate official dock that Zhao Wuji had sent to the southern bank. They slowly headed toward Tangyi City to first meet with Zhao Wuji, Guo Duanduo, Zhao Qi and others.

They could see at this time there were still over twenty Tangyi naval warships, their decks crowded with armored soldiers, anchored in the river waters west of Aoshan Island.

After Han Wenhuan, Yun Puzi, Chen Jingzhou and others arrived at the northern bank and met with Zhao Wuji and the others, after resting two days, they set out on the journey north to Luoyang.

Wang Wenqian this time decided to bring Lady Xu to settle in Liyang.

Though Yin Peng had ambitions for official service, he also had his dignity. Without Han Qian’s formal decree invitation, he could not shamelessly follow Han Wenhuan and the others directly to Luoyang seeking office. Of course he would first accompany Wang Wenqian to Liyang…