Chapter 1042: The Sorrowful Guest of Jinling

In the depths of winter, it was the dry season, and the vast misty waters were no more, which also severely affected water transport on all sides and merchant navigation. Every winter, the Great Han government would also deliberately control the scale of shipping on the canal channels—reducing official voyages and limiting the number of civilian and merchant vessels.

On the canal, where the water level had visibly dropped, a massive fleet was slowly making its way upstream. The boats were large and heavy, driven by manpower, breaking through the bits of ice formed by the bitter cold. Along the banks, several hundred trackers braved the freezing wind, hauling thick ropes, heads down as they pulled. Their coordinated work chants were a unique sight along the Bian River's banks in this winter season.

Since Liu Chengyou ascended the throne, he had placed great importance on the canals and waterways. Even when the state's finances were difficult in the early years, he still squeezed out funds and grain from various sources for river management and dredging. Over more than two years, led by Wang Pu, a large-scale renovation of the canal from Kaifeng to Suzhou was carried out, achieving considerable results.

The primary reason for establishing the capital at Kaifeng was its convenient transportation and economic prosperity—a uniquely favored location capable of sustaining the central court. This canal connecting the Yellow River and the Huai River was Kaifeng's most vital lifeline. In the early days of the state, due to historical reasons, water transport had actually fallen into disuse and was never fully utilized.

When Emperor Liu first sent Wang Pu to manage the canal, beyond economic and livelihood considerations, the main reason was to prepare for the campaign against Huainan. After successfully taking Huainan, the canal's importance became even more pronounced. Tax revenue, grain, salt, and supplies from Huainan were shipped in large quantities to the Eastern Capital, giving the Great Han court a much-needed infusion of resources.

In the following decade, the court did not relax its efforts in repairing and managing the canal. Ensuring its smooth operation required regular dredging and maintenance. Every winter and spring, corvée labor was conscripted to dredge the silted shallow sections, consuming enormous amounts of money and grain.

Through ten years of development, the accumulated problems in water transport caused by dynastic changes and continuous warfare in the early period had been greatly improved, and it grew increasingly prosperous and smooth. Not to mention anything else, the common people along both banks of the canal who depended on it for their livelihood numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Trackers were one such group—low in status yet extremely important.

At this time, the fleet traveling on the Bian River came from Jinling, carrying Li Yu, sovereign of Jiangnan, and his ministers. The distance from Jinling to Kaifeng was not particularly far, but because of the large number of people, the vast amount of property, the many household belongings, and the difficulty of river travel, the journey dragged on and took a long time. Compared to the court's estimate, they were fully half a month late, only arriving at the Eastern Capital in the middle of the twelfth month.

Because his surrender had been relatively proactive, and because Li Yu, though mediocre at governing, had never done anything to provoke heaven's wrath or popular indignation, or violated the values of the times, the Li clan was treated with considerable leniency and not subjected to humiliation. As for the earlier imperial edict for the pacification of the south that described Li Yu as a depraved tyrant, that was naturally set aside after Jiangnan was pacified. Before departing Jinling, Crown Prince Liu Yang had specifically instructed the escorting officials to look after him well and not to oppress him.

Because of this matter, and some good measures taken after entering Jinling, the Great Han's Crown Prince enjoyed an excellent reputation, upholding the court's image and initially gaining recognition, at least putting a large portion of the scholars and common people at ease.

Meanwhile, when Li Yu was escorted out of Jinling, tens of thousands of scholars and commoners voluntarily came to see him off. Such a situation, for a sovereign of a fallen state, was pitiable, lamentable, and also frightening. Han Xizai, who accompanied him north at the time, expressed considerable concern when boarding the ship.

That farewell also made some of the generals and ministers responsible for the aftermath realize something: although over the past decade the state had been repeatedly thrown into turmoil and the people of Jiangnan had suffered hardship under Li clan rule, the clan's three generations and decades of nurturing scholars and comforting the people meant that most people held a sympathetic attitude toward Li Yu, this young "last sovereign." It was foreseeable that for some time to come, nostalgia for the fallen state would persist in the hearts of Jiangnan's scholars and commoners—a point that needed attention.

The Great Han was not lacking in perceptive individuals. During Li Yu's journey north, some officials had already submitted memorials advising Liu Chengyou to place the fallen sovereign of Jiangnan under control. Among them were censors and remonstrance officials at court who had learned of the news, as well as some generals and officials from Jiangnan.

In response, Emperor Liu displayed his magnanimity and directly issued a ruling. In his words: "When Li Yu held his state, he was still broken in a single stroke by the imperial army and surrendered his city. Now he is moved north to the Eastern Capital—why should we fear him? If the scholars and people of Jiangnan miss the Li clan, it is only because they received favors from them in earlier years. If the court implements good governance and spreads its grace widely, why worry that their hearts will not turn to us?"

Li Yu naturally knew nothing of the storm brewing in the Eastern Capital that could affect the treatment of the rest of his life. His political awareness was not high, and he could hardly sense the danger. The scene of leaving Jinling was still fresh in his memory. In the two years since he had succeeded the throne, he had never truly cared for his people, yet when he departed, facing the farewell of tens of thousands, he cried for the first time. Beyond sorrow, guilt filled his heart.

The long journey north was agonizing for Li Yu—it was also a turning point in his mental journey. After suffering a great upheaval, people tend to grow up easily.

When he first surrendered, in order to preserve his life and the safety of his clan, he had not felt much psychological resistance. After receiving certain promises and guarantees, he even breathed a sigh of relief. However, when he later reflected on his decision, all kinds of emotions surged into his heart.

The Great Han's banners were planted all over Jinling's city walls and palaces. His wealth was sealed, his freedom restricted. He hurriedly bid farewell to the ancestral temples and moved his entire family north to the Eastern Capital. Li Yu truly began to understand what Chen Qiao had meant about the humiliation of a fallen state.

His inner grief, shame, and regret grew stronger the farther he got from Jinling. At times, Li Yu even regretted not holding out to the end and perishing with his state. Of course, this was a momentary emotion, something he could only bury deep in his heart and never dare to reveal.

The farther from Jinling and the closer to Kaifeng, the more intense his grief and indignation became. All his sorrow, all his nostalgia, all his melancholy ultimately turned into wine and poetry. This journey was one of torment for Li Yu. Drowning himself in drink, longing for the past, the splendor of bygone days, the feelings of home and country—all were expressed in his poetry. The intensity of his emotions even made his family and old retainers around him nervous.

Now, this long journey had finally come to an end. Arriving at the Eastern Capital, it was time to accept the "judgment" of fate. What the future held, whether the Han emperor would fulfill the court's earlier promises—all remained unknown.

However, after deep reflection, Li Yu no longer had his initial fear. He could not face his fallen state with equanimity, but he could calmly await his eventual fate.

Inside the cabin, Li Yu held a brush in one hand and a cup in the other, his face flushed with drink, his gaze hazy, stubble covering his chin—the very picture of a dejected, sorrowful man. A servant entered and reported: "Sovereign, the military officer has announced that we are about to enter Kaifeng and the ship will soon dock. They ask us to prepare to disembark!"

"How many times have I said it—I am no longer sovereign, and I am unworthy of being sovereign!" Li Yu's attention was on the form of address, then he said unhurriedly: "Finally arrived! This drink in my cup—who knows how much longer I can enjoy it?"

Then he buried his head again and paid no further attention. His wife, Lady Diao, stayed by his side, watching him with heartache. Seeing him pour another cup of wine down his throat, she could not help but press his hand and urge: "Husband, stop drinking. Please don't harm your health!"

Feeling Lady Diao's warm, soft hand, Li Yu looked up at his wife, who had changed into ordinary women's clothing, and noticed her concerned gaze. He sobered up a little, a trace of guilt showing in his eyes: "My lady, after all the coldness I showed you before, do you not resent me?"

Lady Diao's beautiful face was perfectly calm as she said softly: "Not winning my husband's affection is my own inadequacy. But since I am a wife, how could there be any reason for resentment?"

Hearing this, Li Yu was deeply moved, and his guilt grew heavier. He said: "Those who could drink and make merry with me are gone now. The only one who can share my hardships is my beloved wife..."

Hearing his lament, a smile appeared at the corner of Lady Diao's lips, and then she urged: "We are already a couple of a fallen state. Since we have arrived at Kaifeng, husband, you should follow the arrangements and not be negligent. After all, we must consider the safety of your mother, uncle, younger brother, and disciples!"