Chapter 395: Might Descends Upon Jingnan

Jingnan, Jiangling, the main hall of the Nanping Prince's residence.

In the hall, an envoy from the Eastern Capital stood in an arrogant posture, nostrils nearly pointing skyward, displaying the might and overbearingness of the Central Plains dynasty.

"We thank the imperial envoy for the trouble of conveying the court's decree. Please rest at the guest house for now; I have already ordered a banquet prepared. As for the matter of passage and grain supply, I still need to consult with my civil and military officials before giving a reply!" Facing the envoy, the Nanping Prince Gao Baorong, forcing a smile, called to his attendants: "Come, escort the imperial envoy to lodging!"

The Han envoy had come without pause, his robes immaculate, yet the fatigue in his expression was almost palpable. Upon hearing this, he swept his gaze over the assembled Nanping ruler and ministers, then clasped his hands and said: "Many thanks for Your Highness's kindness!"

"That Your Highness needs to deliberate is only reasonable. However, this court decree is the will of the Son of Heaven and brooks no delay. Over at Xiangzhou, Duke Qi has already prepared his troops and will be moving south within a day or two. I hope Your Highness will act swiftly. I shall await Your Highness's reply at the guest house, so that I may report back to the court!" The pleasure of borrowing the tiger's might and bullying the weak was almost written on the Han envoy's face.

Before withdrawing, he added another line: "For decades, Jingnan has belonged to the Central Plains, and Your Highness has submitted as a vassal to His Majesty. When the Son of Heaven issues a command, Your Highness ought to do his utmost to carry it out, to demonstrate your loyalty..."

Only after humbly seeing off the Han envoy did Gao Baorong let out a sigh of relief. He picked up the cup on the table and gulped down water, but it did nothing to ease the worry creasing his brow.

The Nanping Prince Gao Baorong had just passed thirty, having succeeded to the throne less than three years ago. He was by nature mediocre, slow-witted, and not quick in affairs. Now, facing the Northern Han's "decree," he was at a loss, looking helplessly at his attendant ministers: "The Northern Han's command—what are we to do?"

Only two Jingnan ministers stood in the hall. One, thin and sickly in appearance, was Gao Baorong's younger brother Gao Baoxu, who had originally served as Prefect of Hanzhou. After Gao Baorong succeeded to the throne, he was appointed Deputy Military Governor and put in charge of the Nanping Prince's household affairs.

Gao Baorong was neither the eldest son nor particularly talented. Setting aside how he came to be established, though slow-witted, he had self-awareness, entrusting all government affairs, great and small, to Gao Baoxu.

Gao Baoxu did possess some administrative ability; his handling of military and civil matters was fairly competent, and the people were at ease. Thus, compared to the chaos of neighboring Ma Chu, the succession in Jingnan could be described as smooth and stable.

However, the young man was still hot-blooded. Having just witnessed the Han envoy's display of arrogance and high-handedness, he was nursing his anger. Hearing Gao Baorong's question, he immediately said indignantly: "This is outrageous! Bullying us too much! The Northern Han is treating our Gao clan as slaves to be ordered about!"

Gao Baorong's reaction was still slow; he gave an awkward smile: "The Northern Han is strong, and Nanping is weak—what can we do!"

That was the question—what to do? Even complaining was only done behind others' backs; Gao Baoxu wouldn't dare propose any confrontational countermeasure either.

After thinking it over, Gao Baoxu said: "Your Highness, in my view, Ma Xi'e has already brought his troops to the Xiang River; the fall of Changsha is not far off. Why not delay for a few days? Once the situation in Hunan is settled, the Northern Han army will have no reason to send troops south..."

Gao Baorong's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help nodding: "This plan is workable!"

"It is not!" The words had barely fallen when another elder minister in the hall spoke up in opposition.

"What counsel does Vice Director Sun have?" Gao Baorong looked at the man.

The elder minister was named Sun Guangxian, long a member of the Jingnan Military Governor's staff, deeply trusted by the Gao clan, and currently holding the titular post of Vice Director of the Palace Library.

Sun Guangxian lowered his voice and warned: "Your Highness, the Han envoy just said they have not given us much time to consider. Judging by his demeanor, the Northern Han is firmly set on advancing into Lizhou this time. If we deliberately delay, I fear we will not be able to account for ourselves to the Northern Han. If we truly ruin their plans, and the Han Son of Heaven later holds Nanping accountable for it, how will Your Highness respond then?"

"The Northern Han's Son of Heaven has a martial and wise bearing; his state grows stronger by the day, and his army more powerful. Nanping is but three prefectures of land—how can we resist?"

This Sun Guangxian was a famous ci poet of the "Huajian School" and had some administrative ability, but from the present view, he had great potential to be a "chief capitulator," with every word praising the Northern Han.

"Vice Director Sun's words are reasonable—the delaying plan will not do! Not do!" Hearing this, Gao Baorong shrank his neck, fear showing on his face, and changed his stance.

"Then... agree to the Northern Han's demands?" He looked hesitantly at Gao Baoxu.

Seeing this, Gao Baoxu said: "Are we to let the Northern Han take whatever they want from Nanping? They say it's just passage, but what if they pull a 'borrowing passage to destroy Guo' and invade our Nanping—what then?"

"Governor worries too much. The Han troops stationed in Li are only two thousand, and they're Xiangzhou troops at that, not the elite of the Northern Han's imperial army—nothing to fear. Besides, since Your Highness succeeded to the throne, you have always been deferential to the Northern Han, with no act of defiance. How would the Han army dare to brazenly invade us? It's just a bit of grain and money..." Sun Guangxian said immediately, shaking his head.

Hearing this, Gao Baoxu grew slightly angry: "Supplying two thousand soldiers—how many troops does our Nanping even have? How much grain and money will this cost us!"

At the mention of grain and money, Gao Baorong's face also showed a pained expression, as if a vision of vast quantities of grain and coin flowing out of the treasury to feed the Northern Han's army appeared in his mind.

"Enough!" After agonizing for a while, Gao Baorong said in an almost lamenting tone: "Reply to the Han envoy—tell him I agree to the passage!"

Seeing Gao Baorong's decision, Gao Baoxu said no more. In truth, he too dared not truly offend the Northern Han. After thinking a bit more, he suggested: "We should notify all army commanders now—when Han troops pass through, they must remain vigilant and on strict guard. The soldiers under our command should also be strictly disciplined to avoid conflict with the Han army!"

"Good, my brother has thought it through thoroughly—let's do it that way!" Gao Baorong nodded repeatedly.

Settling one matter was like removing a weight from his chest; he felt much more at ease. Suddenly a thought flashed through his mind, and Gao Baorong looked at the two men in the hall: "What do you think—could we send an envoy with gifts to the Eastern Capital to report to the Son of Heaven, saying that our Nanping is small in territory and poor in people, with empty granaries, truly unable to support a large army for long, and ask whether we might provide three months of grain first, after which the court supplies it itself?"

Gao Baoxu and Sun Guangxian exchanged a glance and stated together: "It may be worth a try."

Sun Guangxian then volunteered: "Your Highness, your servant is willing to go personally to the Eastern Capital to plead this matter for Your Highness!"

"..."

Having handled this matter, Gao Baorong, dispirited, left the hall with sighs and headed toward the inner residence of the prince's mansion. The Northern Han's harsh demands this time made Gao Baorong, who had been comfortable for over two years, feel a hint of pressure, and his heart was clouded with gloom.

Though his mind was muddled, he was not stupid. The times were quietly changing, arriving imperceptibly. Gao Baorong's perception was not deep, but that sense of crisis that pierced straight to the heart truly frightened him and left him uneasy.

And the best way to dispel this unease was to ask few questions about outside affairs and devote himself wholeheartedly to amusement in the inner residence. For Gao Baorong, being this Nanping Prince—without ambition for advancement, without strength for action—timely pleasure was the proper path.