Chapter 688: The News of Victory Has Already Arrived

"Your servant Sun Guangxian kowtows before Your Majesty!"

Entering the great hall, Sun Guangxian performed the three kneelings and nine prostrations, all the way to before the imperial presence, his movements precise and standard, paired with a nearly devout expression—truly a pleasing sight.

Looking at the utterly respectful Sun Guangxian, Liu Chengyou broke into a smile, extending his hand: "Lord Sun, no need for ceremony! Be seated!"

"I thank Your Majesty!" At the Han Son of Heaven's gracious attitude, Sun Guangxian felt a slight joy. He had learned that in the current Great Han court, only a very few ministers could sit and converse with the Emperor.

Sun Guangxian's journey north this time could be said to be one of doubled speed—from Jiangling to Kaifeng, a distance of over a thousand li, taking only six days, changing horses and carriages along the way. His old bones and frail frame were nearly jolted apart. Even after resting a night in the Eastern Capital, the exhaustion was plain to see between his brows.

Appraising Sun Guangxian, Liu Chengyou said with a smile: "Lord Sun, it's been many years since we last met! From the look of you now, your elegance remains undiminished!"

"How fortunate that Your Majesty still remembers this old servant—I am moved to tears of gratitude!" Sun Guangxian replied, appearing genuinely touched.

Liu Chengyou casually straightened a few memorials on the imperial desk, glancing sidelong at Sun Guangxian, and said in a low voice: "The situation in Jinghu is tense now, war may break out at any moment. You, Lord Sun, are a pillar of Jingnan—why have you crossed a thousand li to come north to the Eastern Capital?"

Liu Chengyou was clearly asking what he already knew, but Sun Guangxian played along, cupping his hands: "To answer Your Majesty! This trip of mine is by order of the King of Nanping, to discuss the matter of presenting our territory and submitting to the court."

"Oh?" Hearing this, Liu Chengyou seemed to show some interest, but his flat reaction caused a stir of unease in Sun Guangxian's heart.

Seeing this, Sun Guangxian's attitude grew several degrees more eager, and he said: "Your Majesty, since the decline of the Tang, the realm has fallen apart. The Gao clan, three generations, have held Jingnan, governing the people and maintaining order, guarding it for the court so that petty villains might not seize it. Now the Great Han stands mighty in the Central Plains, and Your Majesty is an enlightened sovereign without equal—unifying the realm is a matter of following Heaven's will and answering the hopes of all within the four seas. The King of Nanping, moved by this, dares not go against the great tide, and now wishes to present the territory of Jingnan to the court. I beg Your Majesty to accept it!"

Hearing these words, Liu Chengyou smiled, looking at Sun Guangxian with a teasing air: "The King of Nanping was enfeoffed by the court, and is also the Military Governor of Jingnan appointed by my decree. The land of Jingnan is already royal territory, a vassal of the Great Han. That being so, why speak of 'presenting' it?"

"This..."

What Liu Chengyou said naturally had some logic to it. Compared to the Meng Shu, the Southern Tang, and the Southern Han—those who proclaimed themselves emperors and founded states—the Gao clan of Jingnan had always maintained their vassal status. Though they occasionally made restless moves, it was merely a wayward child misbehaving—after a scolding, they would kneel down and obediently call for their father. Of course, being in an awkward position, with virtually no natural defenses, and facing the full force of the Central Plains' armies, they had little choice but to behave.

"Your Majesty speaks truly!" Sun Guangxian's momentum weakened another two degrees, following Liu Chengyou's words: "Jingnan has always been a vassal of the court. The King of Nanping's intention is to request the dissolution of his fief, returning military and civil authority to the court!"

Toward Sun Guangxian's submission, Liu Chengyou was in fact fairly satisfied. His gaze swept over, noting a box Sun Guangxian carried with him, and he asked: "What is in that box?"

At the question, Sun Guangxian breathed a sigh of relief, quickly rose, opened the box, and took out several volumes of registers and maps, holding them respectfully above his head: "To answer Your Majesty. These are the household registers and maps of Jingnan's three prefectures, seventeen counties, and one hundred thirty-one thousand two hundred households. I beg Your Majesty to review them!"

Clearly, this was what Liu Chengyou cared about more, and his movements grew somewhat larger. Zhao Pu, attending at his side, helped spread them open, holding the registers steady.

Looking over the maps, then flipping through the registers, Liu Chengyou could not help but feel a sense of wonder. Though Jingnan's territory was narrow—only three prefectures—its population density was, by current standards, truly not low. In the Great Han's domains today, only a few prefectures and counties in the Central Plains and Hebei had such abundant populations.

Setting down the registers, Liu Chengyou considered for a moment, then put away his earlier casual air, his demeanor growing somewhat more serious as he said to Sun Guangxian: "Lord Sun, I am willing to believe in the King of Nanping's sincerity, but if not for the court's great army marching south, I fear he would not have conceived such a thought!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou say this, Sun Guangxian's heart tightened at once, and he lamented inwardly—must Your Majesty always frighten this old servant like this? He cupped his hands and bowed: "Your Majesty sees clearly. The Gao clan has, after all, guarded Jingnan for many years, never harboring wild ambitions, only praying for peace and safety. Now that the situation in the realm is as it is, only submitting to the court and being loyal to Your Majesty is the path to lasting security. That is why I have made this journey!"

Liu Chengyou continued: "Since you had the heart to submit, why did you still defend your cities and hold out when the court's troops marched south? Do you know that the rebel Zhou of Hunan is mustering his forces for war, and his great army has marched north and is urgently attacking our Liyang city—it can be said to be in peril at any moment! Military intelligence is urgent, and because of the Jingnan affair, the army's movements have been delayed, in turn affecting the campaign to pacify Hunan!"

Not waiting for Sun Guangxian to answer, Liu Chengyou continued, his tone growing increasingly severe: "Do you think I don't know Gao Baorong's intentions? The sincerity of presenting the territory is real enough, but your coming here, Lord Sun, is surely to raise conditions on Gao Baorong's behalf! Using Jiangling as a bargaining chip, demanding favorable treatment from me—and if I refuse, you would hold fast at Jiangling and use that as a threat?"

"Your Majesty, we would never dare harbor such thoughts!" Sun Guangxian immediately prostrated himself, cold sweat streaming—clearly a man whose schemes had been laid bare.

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou's stern expression softened again, and he said with a light laugh: "Still, every man has his private concerns, and I can understand the King of Nanping's worries. The realm has fallen to such ruin that villains like Zhou Xingfeng rise in rebellion and overturn the moral order. That the King of Nanping could take the initiative to present his territory is truly commendable!"

"Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty is wise!" Hearing Liu Chengyou say this, Sun Guangxian hurriedly sang his praises, the tension in him releasing.

"There is one more matter I must tell you of!" Liu Chengyou continued.

Hearing this, Sun Guangxian put aside all other thoughts: "Your servant listens with rapt attention!"

Liu Chengyou, however, gestured to Zhao Pu. Understanding, Zhao Pu, with a faint smile, looked at Sun Guangxian and explained: "Lord Sun may not yet know—the day before you arrived at the Eastern Capital, the Bureau of Military Affairs received an urgent report from the southern field headquarters. Commander-in-Chief Murong Yanzhao, leading the great army in person, marched south at double speed to the city of Jiangling, and the King of Nanping has already opened his gates and surrendered!"

"This, this..." Sun Guangxian's face was full of astonishment. He was completely caught off guard—how could he have imagined that Jiangling would fall so quickly? He had come in humble submission, and now, with this, where was there any chance to bargain with the court?

Had he known this would happen, why bother with such petty schemes, only to displease the court? If they had surrendered outright, would the Son of Heaven have treated them poorly? A look of dejection and bitterness gradually spread across his face.

Observing the change in his expression, Liu Chengyou said seriously: "Lord Sun, the King of Nanping's presentation of his territory and submission—I am most gratified. You may return to Jiangling and answer him: his title shall be preserved, his stipend doubled, and any member of the Lady Gao with talent shall be employed by the court. Furthermore, I have had several great mansions built along the Bian River, reserved especially for the Lady Gao's residence! As for the Lady Gao's lands, properties, and wealth in Jingnan, the court will not take a single coin—they may sell them as they wish!"

As he spoke, Liu Chengyou's expression turned cold and stern: "However, the Lady Gao's relocation north is the bottom line of both me and the court. Do you understand?"

Hearing the Han Emperor's words, Sun Guangxian sighed inwardly. This was still a considerable gap from what Gao Baorong had hoped for. In Gao Baorong's thinking, after presenting the territory, the Gao clan should be permitted to remain in Jingnan forever—though that was a fantasy. But clearly, how could the court allow it? They would inevitably uproot the Gao clan entirely, to strengthen their future rule over Jingnan.

Thinking of this, Sun Guangxian abandoned any further thought of fighting for the Gao clan. This could hardly be called negotiation—it was a pure surrender, especially since Gao Baorong had already thrown away his own "trump card" at Jiangling.

Meeting Liu Chengyou's gaze, Sun Guangxian bowed: "Your servant understands. Upon returning to Jiangling, I will surely convey to the King of Nanping the full grace of Your Majesty and the court!"

"Excellent!" Liu Chengyou nodded, then his tone shifted: "However, Lord Sun, as you return to Jiangling, I have another important task to entrust to you!"

Sun Guangxian was briefly startled, but quickly realized what this might mean, his heart unconsciously beating faster, and he hurriedly said: "I beg Your Majesty to command me—your servant will exert every effort!"

"This time, that the King of Nanping took the initiative to present his territory to the court—I am well aware of your role and merit in this, Lord Sun!" Liu Chengyou's tone was unhurried, his attitude warm: "The court intends to campaign against the rebel Zhou of Hunan, with Jiangling serving as the rear supply route. But Jiangling has only just submitted, and its affairs are numerous and tangled. It requires a worthy talent familiar with local conditions and governance, like yourself, Lord Sun, to manage matters. I intend to establish a Jiangling Prefecture in Jingnan, and you, Lord Sun, shall be provisionally placed in charge of Jiangling Prefecture affairs—governing the people, maintaining order, and gathering supplies for the great army!"

"I thank Your Majesty!" Sun Guangxian's face immediately broke into a beaming smile, and he bowed his head to the ground: "Your servant will not fail Your Majesty's trust!"

Perhaps for Sun Guangxian, this appointment and arrangement by the Han Emperor was what brought him greater joy. He was only in his fifties, still ambitious for an official career, and if he could perform well during this period of Jingnan's initial submission, it would allow him to integrate more quickly into the Han court's system.

Of course, in Liu Chengyou's view, using Sun Guangxian was only a temporary measure, to smooth things over. Once the Jinghu affair was settled, he would certainly be transferred to another post.