Chapter 707: Entering Changsha, Pacifying Hunan

"Madam, although the Military Governor is trapped in a heavy siege, he may not necessarily be in danger!" Seeing Lady Yan weeping, the young officer could not bear it and could not help but console her.

"I know him well—he will not come back alive. This is already the letter he left for me and my son!" Lady Yan's tears would not stop.

Seeing this, the officer fell silent, then forced out a sentence: "Please accept my condolences, Madam!"

Taking a deep breath, the officer said: "Madam, please pull yourself together. The overall situation in Changsha still needs you to take charge!"

Looking at him, knowing that he was Zhou Xingfeng's most trusted officer and also a fellow townsman, Lady Yan did not conceal anything, her expression unable to hide her grief, and said: "Zhou Liang, you do not understand the situation in Changsha. Now we have fewer than a thousand soldiers, the whole city is stricken by great famine, the people's hearts are lost, and the treasuries are empty. What can I, a mere woman, do?

The common folk of Changsha have fought bitterly for a long time, yearning ardently for peace. How could I go against their heartfelt wishes again, doing something like striking a rock with an egg, only adding to the casualties? The Han army is about to arrive. We can only wait for them to enter the city and submit to their disposition..."

Hearing this, the officer Zhou Liang shook his head and said solemnly: "Madam, that is not what I mean. Hunan is in such dire straits that we naturally should not take the path of seeking death. But I came bearing the Military Governor's orders, and I must complete them—to protect you and the young lord!"

Hearing his words, the sorrow on Lady Yan's face slightly receded, and she knitted her brows as she looked at him. Just as she was about to speak, an attendant entered to report: "Madam, Secretary Li Guanxiang and Generals Sun and Wang request an audience!"

Lady Yan lightly wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and instructed: "Let the three of them come in!"

"Yes!"

After the attendant withdrew to receive them, Captain Zhou Liang straightened up, cupped his hands, and reported: "Madam, I came south under the Military Governor's orders—first, to guard you, and second, to deal with Li Guanxiang and his ilk. Though the Military Governor is in Yuezhou, he has heard of matters in Changsha. He knows that Li Guanxiang and the others harbor treacherous intentions—when the Han army reaches Changsha, they will surely surrender the city to gain merit, using you and the young lord as stepping stones for advancement! To prevent mishaps and being taken advantage of by villains, the Military Governor ordered me to find an opportunity to kill them!"

Zhou Xingfeng could indeed be called a man of outstanding talent, with remarkably keen perception. Although he was determined to resist the Han and contend against Heaven, he had always kept a clear reckoning of how the situation was developing. He knew that preparing for this war had offended too many people—once he died, the orphan and widow left behind would inevitably fall into peril. Those who had lost their homes and wealth because of him would likely vent their hatred and anger upon his wife, and the ones who could protect Lady Yan and her son and provide them shelter would be the Great Han court.

Zhou Xingfeng had also mentioned in his letter to Lady Yan that she should not harbor hatred—she should surrender and seek protection under the Han court. As for Zhou Liang and the others coming south, if Changsha had not yet fallen, they were to eliminate those with divergent intentions like Li Guanxiang, so that the merit of surrendering the city would not be stolen by them...

At this moment, hearing Zhou Liang's words, Lady Yan could not help but reveal a trace of complex emotion. Thinking she harbored doubts, Zhou Liang's hand moved to the saber at his waist, a hint of ferocity congealing on his face, and he said in a low voice: "Madam need not worry about safety. I brought back over a hundred armored soldiers with me—all veteran warriors who followed the Military Governor for many years, their loyalty can be guaranteed. Together with the guards of the governor's mansion, that is more than enough to accomplish the deed.

The three of them, Li Guanxiang included, arriving now is perfectly timed. While they are off guard, seize and behead them first. Then, with you appearing, Madam, to pacify the soldiers and tell them of the intent to surrender the city to settle their hearts, afterwards arrest all their partisans—and Changsha will be cleansed.

For the safety of you and the young lord, please do not hesitate—make your decision swiftly!"

Zhou Liang's words were indeed loyal advice, but Lady Yan still gently shook her head and said with sorrow: "My husband was fierce and unyielding by nature, deep and fond of killing—I never approved of it. Over all these years, Changsha has already shed too much blood and lost too many lives. Secretary Li has always been deferential to my husband and me, serving diligently these three years without ever slacking. Now that the Han army is coming, fortune and misfortune are hard to foresee, and hearts turning elsewhere is only human nature. How can we be harsh in judgment, let alone kill him? Enough—life and death are determined by fate. Let things take their course..."

"Madam!" Zhou Liang wanted to persuade further.

"On this matter, my mind is made up—say no more! You have returned from Yuezhou after a hard journey; rest well in the mansion!" Lady Yan raised her hand to stop him.

Seeing Lady Yan's solemn expression and her look of firm resolve, the young officer finally closed his mouth.

Soon, three civil and military officials walked into the hall. Glancing at Zhou Liang standing to the side, travel-worn and dusty, they together saluted Lady Yan: "We pay our respects to Madam!"

"The three of you need not stand on ceremony!" Lady Yan had resumed her dignified bearing, her tears already stopped, but the redness around her eyes and that thread of sorrow were hard to conceal.

Noticing this, Li Guanxiang probed: "We heard that the Military Governor sent someone south. We are deeply worried—how goes the battle at Yuezhou?"

Glancing at the three men, Lady Yan sighed and said: "My husband sent someone south to report. He has already resolved to die. Baling is weakened and may have already fallen. My husband may have already been defeated and killed."

"What!" Li Guanxiang wore a look of shock.

Lady Yan, by contrast, appeared calmer, only holding Zhou Baoquan tighter as she continued: "Now the imperial army is about to arrive. How should we respond?"

Hesitating for a moment, Li Guanxiang cupped his hands and said: "I report to Madam—if the Military Governor has met with misfortune at Yuezhou, I am deeply grieved. However, given the situation of Changsha and indeed all of Hunan, we truly cannot defy the court any longer. If we wish to preserve the lives of all the officials, soldiers, and people in the city, the only path is to surrender!"

"Are you all of the same opinion?" Lady Yan looked toward Generals Sun and Wang.

Their eyes flickered somewhat, but they still answered affirmatively: "Indeed!"

Seeing this, Lady Yan still said plainly: "Since all are of one mind, I, a mere woman, naturally concur. Now that I am a widow with an orphaned son and cannot manage affairs, I shall trouble Secretary Li to make a trip to the Han camp and state our intent to surrender the city. My son and I will bind our own hands and await their disposition!"

For some reason, hearing Lady Yan speak thus, the three men felt relieved, yet also a faint sense of shame. It was Li Guanxiang who reacted most naturally, cupping his hands and saying: "Madam need not worry. Though the Military Governor defied the court, the court would never go so far as to bully a widow and her child. Moreover, Madam understands righteousness and surrenders the city of her own accord—surely you will be treated well!"

"Then I entrust this matter to Secretary Li!"

"This official will not fail the mission!"

While Lady Yan was conversing with Li Guanxiang and the other two, Zhou Liang's hand remained on his saber hilt the whole time, gripping it tightly. The three men who left, however, were completely unaware that they had nearly become ghosts beneath the blade.

A day later, under Li Guanxiang's welcoming escort, Han cavalry came south. Lady Yan and her son, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, led the entire city's soldiers and civilians in bowing to welcome the great army into the city. Under the leadership of Chief General Shi Yanchao, the Han army entered the city, confiscated the defenders' weapons and armor, and swiftly seized control of all the key thoroughfares, granaries, and government offices throughout the city, stabilizing order.

Two days later, Murong Yanzhao, the commander of the Southern Field Headquarters, also led his forces south. In full armor and solemn array, he was imposing and extraordinary beneath the great banner, surrounded by armored cavalry guards that further accentuated the majesty of the southern expedition's commander.

As the vanguard of the surrender and the former head of civil and military affairs, Li Guanxiang was fortunate enough to be waiting in attendance at his side. Looking at the intact city of Changsha, the Han banners fluttering in the wind attesting to the fruits of this southern campaign, Murong Yanzhao said to Li Guanxiang: "To have taken all of Changsha this time without a single blade being bloodied—Mr. Li's contribution is truly great!"

"The Commander-in-Chief flatters me! The heavenly army came south, and the soldiers and people of Changsha dared not defy Heaven—surrendering was only natural!" At these words, the smile blooming on his old face was like a chrysanthemum, and he flattered with downcast eyes and a meek demeanor.

"How is the situation in the city?" This was asked of Shi Yanchao.

Shi Yanchao replied: "Everything is under control. There have been no disturbances—these Chu commoners have been very well-behaved!"

"What of Zhou Xingfeng's wife and children?" He asked again.

"They are temporarily detained, held in the Military Governor's mansion. I have posted men to guard them closely!" Shi Yanchao said.

Turning his head to look at him, Murong Yanzhao said: "There has been no bullying or harassment, I trust!"

"With the Commander-in-Chief's orders issued beforehand, how would anyone above or below dare to violate them?" Shi Yanchao replied. But inwardly he was muttering—Lady Yan was hardly a beautiful woman, and the governor's mansion was a picture of poverty; there was truly nothing worth harassing...

"Changsha counts as the capital of Hunan, yet the officials are poor, the army is poor, the people are poor. Compared to Jiangling, it's like heaven and earth. The granaries have hardly any surplus grain—even rats would starve to death..." Shi Yanchao could not help complaining.

Hearing his account, Murong Yanzhao's gaze involuntarily shifted toward Li Guanxiang. Meeting the Commander-in-Chief's gaze, Li Guanxiang responded somewhat awkwardly: "The money, grain, and wealth of Changsha were all gathered up by Zhou Xingfeng and used for military expenditures..."

Murong Yanzhao turned his head back, seeming both angered and moved: "To resist the imperial army, Zhou Xingfeng truly spared no effort!"

"The Commander-in-Chief has just arrived—perhaps you should enter the city and rest first. The governor's mansion has already been cleaned and prepared!" Li Guanxiang requested.

Nodding, Murong Yanzhao spurred his horse into the city, issuing orders at great speed: "Immediately draft a proclamation and send it to all the prefectures and counties of Hunan, ordering them to submit. Any who have not presented a memorial of surrender within three days of receiving the proclamation shall be deemed rebels and destroyed by military force. Appoint Pan Mei and Cao Bin as Left and Right Army Commanders, each leading three thousand troops, to advance on the prefectures of Heng, Gui, Dao, and Chen, and take the southern territories! After taking them, garrison in place and observe the Lingnan region, watching the movements of the puppet court. Additionally, send an envoy to the Eastern Capital to report the victory—Changsha has fallen, and Hunan is about to be pacified!"