Chapter 814: Existing in Name, Dead in Reality

Xiao Ran smiled and handed the imperial edict to Xiao Yuanhang: "Take a look yourself, I'm going to find Tuan Tuan; it's been many days since we saw her, I miss her."

Xiao Ningchen rolled his eyes at him: "You didn't even read the edict, and you're already thinking about going to find Tuan Tuan to play?"

Chen Hao laughed: "He just doesn't feel like reading!"

"Father Emperor's edict was originally for you, just read it yourselves." Xiao Ran was nonchalant, darted off: "Chen Hao, let's go find Tuan Tuan!"

"Wait!" Xiao Ningxun called out.

Xiao Ran halted, turned back: "What is it?"

Xiao Ningxun asked: "Are you two afraid of snakes?"

Chen Hao replied: "I'm not scared, it's only a little."

"Who said that?" Xiao Ran retorted, "I'm not afraid of snakes! What's there to fear about snakes? By the way, why are you asking?"

Xiao Ningxun smiled, just about to speak.

"Never mind," Xiao Ningchen grabbed him, "You two go ahead, Tuan Tuan will be overjoyed to see her Ninth brother."

"Hahaha," Xiao Ran looked smug, "I'm not here, little one must be missing me, right?"

Xiao Ningxun looked helplessly at his second brother.

Second brother, when did you become so mischievous?

Xiao Ran and Chen Hao walked out.

Xiao Yuanhang laughed and shook his head, these kids! Truly naughty.

He spread the edict on the table.

"Whoa!" Xiao Ningchen understood, "No wonder Ninth Prince wouldn't read it, it's so long!"

It read:

"By order of the Heavenly Emperor, immediate abdication decree, stripping the emperor of his title, demoting him to King of East Japan."

"Grant Princess Yongning as his queen, and appoint the child born of the two as the next King of East Japan."

"If Princess Yongning bears no child, I will select another woman from the royal clan of the Fierce Nation to marry the East Japan King, until a son is produced."

"Great," Xiao Ningchen laughed, "What emperor, I get annoyed just hearing it—such a palm‑sized East Japan, still daring to place itself above His Majesty, calling itself emperor."

"Establish the offspring of Princess Yongning and the East Japan King as the next East Japan King," Xiao Ningxun approved, "Clever move; from now on, every East Japan King will carry Fierce Nation blood."

The three were about to continue reading when they heard Xiao Ran's voice from afar: "Ah—snake! Little one, what are you raising! You actually raised a snake!"

Then the voice rushed into the courtyard.

Tuan Tuan's voice followed: "Ninth brother, don't run! Little Jinjin won't bite you!"

Chen Hao clearly also chased after: "Tuan Tuan, slow down! Don't fall!"

The three looked at each other and couldn't help bursting into laughter.

Xiao Ningchen laughed the happiest: "Ignore him, keep reading."

"Fujiwara Yoshinobu instigated the war, slaughtering Korean civilians; for this he is the chief villain, his crime unforgivable."

"He shall be publicly executed in the streets of Kyoto at once, to appease the spirits of the Korean victims, and set the world right."

"Immediately audit the property of the East Japan King and all nobles and samurai of the former shogunate, register them, and reallocate uniformly."

"Except for the East Japan King and a few meritorious officials who retain portions, the rest shall be taken, divided among the poor of each region, announced in the name of the new East Japan Queen."

Xiao Yuanhang said: "Good, that's what you call cutting the fire at its source."

"Let them keep noble titles but lose their former wealth; they won't be able to stir up any trouble in the future."

"Indeed, wealth redistribution stabilizes the people's hearts and weakens the power of the East Japan King and the nobles," Xiao Ningxun nodded, "The East Japan populace will be eternally grateful to the foreign‑married Fierce Nation queen."

Xiao Ningchen said: "Exactly, from now on they won't be easily incited by schemers to rebel."

The three continued reading.

"Any East Japan man who marries a Zhongyuan woman shall receive a year's worth of silver per household."

"Children born of such unions receive priority admission to schools, the Imperial Examination, and official careers, and the Imperial Court shall grant them an annual nurturing stipend; the more they marry and bear children, the more rewards."

"From now on, official schools shall be established throughout East Japan; all eligible youths must enroll."

"The Zhongyuan language and script shall be the sole medium of instruction."

"Henceforth all official documents, private contracts, and school teachings within East Japan must use the Zhongyuan language and script."

"A ten‑year deadline shall be set to completely abolish the old East Japan language."

"Establish the East Japan Propaganda and Pacification Office, appoint the Minister of War Lin Changyuan as its first envoy, overseeing stationed troops and handling the above matters."

"Prince Ning Xiao Yuanhang leads the troops and remaining soldiers back to the court."

"Good!" Xiao Yuanhang nodded repeatedly, "In less than fifty years, East Japan will be dead."

Xiao Ningxun nodded: "His Majesty is wise."

"But, which lady gave birth to this Princess Yongning? I haven't heard of her."

"There is no princess titled Yongning in the palace," Xiao Yuanhang thought, "It must be a royal clan daughter selected by His Majesty, titled princess, and married to the East Japan King."

"Go ask Ninth Prince when this Minister of War Lin will arrive."

"Once he arrives, we can return to Jingcheng."

He sighed lightly: "Tuan Tuan must have dreamed of An'er last night, calling out 'mother' several times; we owe her a lot, the sooner we go back the better."

"Yes." Xiao Ningchen was about to stand, but stopped, nudged his third brother, "You go ask him."

Xiao Ningxun rolled his eyes at his brother: "You say you teased him, now you don't dare see him, right?"

"No problem," Xiao Ningchen laughed, "Little Jinjin is so obedient, Xiao Ran's temperament is carefree; in a few days he'll stop being afraid, I hide from him two days and he'll forget."

Xiao Ningxun helplessly shook his head, got up and walked out.

Ten days later, Lin Changyuan led the first batch of officials of the East Japan Propaganda and Pacification Office to East Japan.

Xiao Yuanhang left twenty thousand troops, led the remaining generals and soldiers back to Jingcheng.

The great army returned in triumph, and the citizens of Jingcheng lined the streets to welcome them, their cheers shaking the heavens.

The next morning at court, Xiao Jieyun wore a beaming smile and bestowed heavy rewards on everyone who had taken part, especially the people of the Ning Prince's Mansion.

After the court adjourned, in Zichen Hall.

Only Xiao Jieyun, Xiao Yuanhang, and Eunuch Cheng were present.

Xiao Yuanhang lavishly praised the Emperor's strategy to bring about Japan's downfall: it did not involve large‑scale slaughter, yet it would render Japan a name in name only decades later.

Xiao Jieyun gave a faint smile: "I dare not claim credit for this; it was the Imperial Teacher who offered the plan."

Xiao Jieyun paused briefly: "Yuanhang, the realm is now at peace; there is no longer any war across the four seas."

"I have owed the Empress much in earlier years; from now on I wish to travel the mountains and rivers with her, carefree and joyous."

Xiao Yuanhang was startled.