Chapter 509: Returning to Court in Triumph

Yangzhou, Jiangdu Traveling Palace.

The old palace chambers, with the imperial carriage arriving from the east, had become the traveling palace of the Son of Heaven of the Great Han. Inside the palace hall, Liu Chengyou leaned over his desk, brush in hand, sketching out arrangements—the disposition of garrison troops was basically taking shape beneath his brush tip. Pointing at rivers and mountains, outlining the realm—nothing surpassed this.

"Li Deming is dead?" Hearing Li Shaoyou's report, Liu Chengyou was somewhat surprised.

"Indeed!" Li Shaoyou reported: "Just yesterday, Li Jing issued an edict, and had Li Deming's entire family beheaded in the marketplace! Your Majesty, this move by the Tang court clearly shows they harbor ill intentions toward this peace negotiation—we must be on guard!"

Liu Chengyou thought for a moment, then waved his hand: "No need to be overly tense. Jinling suffered a great defeat this time—a humiliating loss. If we don't let them vent the anger and resentment in their hearts, how can they accept reality?"

"What a pity though! That Li Deming, though lacking in ministerial integrity, ran himself ragged for our court before and after the peace talks, doing his utmost. Setting aside his virtue, counting only his merits—they are not small, and I owe him a debt of gratitude!" Liu Chengyou sighed: "I had originally thought that after withdrawing north, leaving him in Jinling would make a fine chess piece! As it stands now, it seems I failed to consider things thoroughly!"

"That Li Deming—unable in life to fulfill his duty as a minister, yet able in death to draw Your Majesty's sighs of regret—even descending to the Nine Springs, that is his fortune!" Li Shaoyou said.

Liu Chengyou asked: "The whole family was executed?"

"Except for one young grandson, who was made a government slave due to his tender age, the remaining twenty-some members were all executed!" Li Shaoyou replied.

Letting out a light breath, Liu Chengyou raised his hand and instructed: "Send someone to bring his young grandson to the Eastern Capital. I will grant him a title and a mansion—consider it repayment for his service, and a way to preserve a line of incense for him!"

"Yes!" Li Shaoyou immediately responded: "Your Majesty is merciful!"

For the Wude Office, this was no difficult matter.

"Any other movements from Jiangnan?" Liu Chengyou asked.

Li Shaoyou reported: "At present, Jiangnan is actively preparing the first batch of annual tribute goods. According to reports, our army's presence in Huainan still makes their sovereign and ministers uneasy. Additionally, Li Jing, having suffered this great upheaval, is dejected and has also fallen ill. Word from the Tang palace is that Li Jing harbors intentions to abdicate!"

"Oh?" Liu Chengyou grew interested and straightened up: "Abdicate! The heir Li Jing has established—isn't it his younger brother Li Jingsui!"

Seeing the unusual expression on the Son of Heaven's face, Li Shaoyou immediately reported: "Indeed! Li Jingsui is the heir, but that man's temperament is mediocre and indifferent—even more so than his elder brother. He has no ambition and has long harbored thoughts of retirement. As for Li Jing's eldest son, Li Hongji, his personality is willful and fierce, fond of martial affairs and the use of force. This time he defeated Wuyue at Changzhou and earned military merit. In the river defense operations, this man served as deputy commander of the Tang army and displayed considerable skill, greatly boosting his reputation.

Originally, this should have been a struggle for the succession that we could exploit to further destabilize their government. Unfortunately, given the current situation of the Tang court, if Li Jing truly abdicates, Li Jingsui stands absolutely no chance."

"If that Li Hongji were to take the throne—such an aggressive and fierce ruler—that would not be good for our court!" Liu Chengyou muttered.

"Additionally!" Li Shaoyou further reported: "Li Jing also seems to have intentions of relocating the capital!"

"Ha! I think this Li Jing has become a startled bird!" Liu Chengyou laughed and said: "If I continue to linger in Huainan, who knows how many more notions this man will conjure up!"

"As for the situation at the Jinling court—whether it's the succession, military or civil affairs, or factional strife—the Wude Office must keep a close watch on everything, great or small!" Liu Chengyou said sternly.

Seeing this, Li Shaoyou hurriedly said: "As you command!"

"Your Majesty, news has come from Hefei!" After Li Shaoyou withdrew, Zhang Dejun came forward to report: "That Tang envoy Sun Sheng is dead!"

"Hm?" Liu Chengyou, still pondering the post-war arrangements for Huainan, was caught off guard again and asked: "What happened?"

Zhang Dejun replied: "To answer Your Majesty, it is said that after Sun Sheng learned of the peace treaty between the two countries, he was overcome with grief and indignation, and starved himself to death."

"Hmph!" Liu Chengyou let out a light snort, rose and began pacing, shaking his head: "See? Jianghuai is not lacking in loyal ministers. With ministers like this, Li Jing still ended up in such a state—utterly defeated!"

"The Tang sovereign is benighted, Your Majesty is wise. On this point alone, the false Tang can never be a match for the Great Han!" Zhang Dejun said with a light chuckle.

"Convey my edict: have Hefei send someone to collect and enshroud Sun Sheng's remains. This man was from the north, was he not? Open the border checkpoints and send him back to his hometown for burial—it would not be amiss to let the fallen leaf return to its root!" Liu Chengyou sighed and instructed.

"Yes!"

"By the way!" Liu Chengyou had a second thought and added: "That Zhong Mo hasn't had any problems, has he? Have someone keep a good watch over him—I still intend to receive this man. Also, the Hefei field headquarters may begin its withdrawal north first, and rendezvous with the imperial carriage at the Huai River!"

From the city walls of Jiangdu, the view stretched out under a balmy sky with brilliant spring sunshine. The city was peaceful and orderly, and the people of Yangzhou seemed to have already recovered from the calamities of war. At least on the streets, scenes of prosperity could still be seen.

"In misty March one sails down to Yangzhou—though it is only February now, the splendor of Yangzhou can already be glimpsed!" Liu Chengyou had specially summoned Zhao Kuangyin to accompany him on a tour of Jiangdu, and he sighed with emotion.

Zhao Kuangyin lagged one body-length behind, attending the carriage at the side, and said: "To answer Your Majesty, the land of Yangzhou is rich in goods and its people prosperous. Its wealth has long been famed throughout the realm, giving rise to the saying 'Yangzhou first, Yizhou second.' So long as order is stabilized and the people's hearts are settled, its prosperity will naturally be restored!"

"A city taken by force of arms recovering this quickly is not as easy as you make it sound!" Liu Chengyou said, a smile evident at the corners of his mouth: "Yuanlang, in this southern campaign, you have rendered merit time and again, giving me many pleasant surprises—the great victory at Wokou, the night raid on Chuzhou in the cold dark, the hundred-li relief march to Shanyang, the sudden strike south on Gaoyou. One after another, among the generals of this southern expedition, few can compare with you, Zhao Kuangyin, in military merit. But do you know what pleases me most?"

Before Zhao Kuangyin could respond, Liu Chengyou patted the solid parapet of Jiangdu's walls and said: "It is this very city beneath our feet—the entire city taken intact, preserving its peace! I have always understood the destructive power of war. To have Yangzhou delivered intact to me and the court far exceeds my expectations.

I have heard that when Yangzhou first fell, chaos erupted within the city and nearly became a full-scale military disaster. It was precisely your timely reaction and proper handling that averted the calamity. With all the wealth of Yangzhou, no women were violated, no goods or treasures were taken..."

When Liu Chengyou reached this point, Zhao Kuangyin's expression shifted slightly, and he clasped his hands and said: "Your servant would never dare claim such credit—I merely acted in accordance with Your Majesty's edicts!"

Liu Chengyou was slightly taken aback, then seemed to realize something—as if he had misused an allusion—and waved his hand: "I heard that there were over a thousand prisoners in Yangzhou's jails, many of them wrongly accused. You sorted through them all in a matter of days, releasing the innocent and punishing the wicked, greatly pleasing the people's hearts?"

"When this officer reviewed the prisons and criminal cases, I learned of the situation and found that among the prisoners, some were indeed wrongfully accused, but more were victims of the harshness of Tang law. Therefore, I re-adjudicated their crimes according to Han law!" Zhao Kuangyin said.

Nodding, Liu Chengyou suddenly said: "It seems that having you, Zhao Yuanlang, merely command troops in battle is still underusing your talents! In days to come, who knows—you might rise from general to chancellor!"

The Son of Heaven's words carried both encouragement and expectation. Zhao Kuangyin was secretly pleased, but still respectfully expressed humility.

"When the imperial carriage returns to the capital, you will accompany it and serve as commander of the imperial camp, guarding the imperial tent! Additionally, from the Suzhou Militia, select those with military merit and the strongest and most able-bodied to fill out the imperial army of the Eastern Capital!" Liu Chengyou instructed, which could be considered a favor to Zhao Kuangyin and the Suzhou soldiers.

"Yes!"

From Liu Chengyou's words, it was clear that Zhao Kuangyin was not among the generals remaining in Huainan.

The conversation between Liu Chengyou and Zhao Kuangyin was fortunate enough to be heard by Dang Jin, who was among those accompanying the carriage and followed behind—he heard every word clearly. Only now did he finally begin to understand why Zhao Kuangyin had so strictly forbidden looting back then. Otherwise, the Son of Heaven today would never have spoken these words.

Qianyou fifth year, second month, twentieth day—the Han emperor's carriage departed from Yangzhou, heading north back to the Eastern Capital, officially returning to court in triumph.

For the Huainan region, Wang Pu was appointed Administration Commissioner of the Huai East Circuit, governing the seven prefectures of Yang, Tai, Chu, He, Hao, Si, and Chu. Yangzhou was elevated to Jiangdu Prefecture, with him exercising authority over Jiangdu's affairs. The former Yizhou Militia Commissioner Chen Sirang was made Chief Commander of the Huai East Circuit, leading troops in garrison.

For the six prefectures of the Huai West Circuit—Shou, Lu, Shu, Huang, Guang, and Qi—the former chancellor Dou Zhengu was transferred south from Xuzhou to serve as Administration Commissioner, and the former Yingzhou Militia Commissioner Si Chao was made Chief Commander of the Huai West Circuit.

As for Haizhou, being north of the Huai, it was not included in this arrangement. The remaining garrison troops were drawn from the three armies—Fengguo, Xiaodi, and Husheng—with detachments from each, totaling ten thousand men, stationed at key locations, supplemented by incorporated Tang army soldiers.

The Huaide Army, temporarily established during wartime, was directly disbanded by Liu Chengyou, with its officers and men divided under the two circuit chief commands. Among the officers, those from Huainan could naturally rest easy, and the Jiangnan officers and soldiers, after their families were sent north, were also considerably reassured.