Chapter 291: Northern Han's Submission

The new greenery on the land of Hebei had not yet fully spread; another wave of shock from Taiyuan Prefecture in the north had already traveled along the official relay stations at a speed faster than spring wind, reaching Bianliangcheng.

The Northern Han emperor Liu Jun dispatched envoys seeking peace.

This news was like tossing a weighty stone onto a lake whose ripples had just begun to subside, stirring up a fresh round of discussion and excitement throughout court and countryside.

At the Battle of Jinzhou, the Northern Han main force was annihilated together with the Iron Crow Army; General Murong Yanchao died in battle, Emperor Liu Jun barely escaped with his life, fleeing in panic back to Taiyuan.

Afterward, Zhenbei Grand General Shi Dun led his troops northward, advancing steadily and establishing camps at every step, capturing several prefectures, with his spearhead pointing at the outskirts of the Taiyuan Basin.

Within Northern Han territory, people panicked, supplies were exhausted, troops depleted, and they had reached a point of utter desperation, on the verge of collapse.

Liu Jun, the warlord who had relied on Shatuo cavalry and Khitan support to carve out a regime and proclaim himself emperor in Hedong, finally lowered his proud head.

Inside the Zijin Hall, the atmosphere was utterly different from usual.

Although officials still stood in solemn attendance, the air was filled with an irrepressible, victorious exaltation.

Everyone's gaze, tinged with scrutiny and contempt, fell upon the several Northern Han envoys kneeling in the hall.

They were dusty and weary; though they tried to keep their attire neat, their destitution and alarm could not be concealed.

The chief envoy was the Northern Han Vice Minister of Rites, a middle-aged scholar with a wan face.

He held aloft with both hands a state letter wrapped in yellow silk, his voice trembling uncontrollably as he read Liu Jun's apology and plea for peace.

"Subject Liu Jun bows my head and dares to address the Great Chen Emperor's Majesty:"

"I am merely an ignorant border commander, rash and foolish, who dared to claim the throne and resist the imperial army, bearing grave sins."

"In the Battle of Jinzhou, heavenly might descended; my troops were utterly annihilated—this is entirely my own fault, and I dare not blame heaven."

"Now I have heard of Your Majesty's benevolent virtue, whose grace extends to all creation; I am filled with remorse and resolve to mend my ways."

"I hereby wish to relinquish the imperial title, abolish the trappings of false sovereignty, become a vassal of Great Chen, offer tribute, and forever remain a loyal subject, never again harboring dual loyalties."

"I implore Your Majesty, out of pity for the innocent folk of Hedong, to cease the heavenly troops and grant us a sliver of hope."

"I offer to submit a surrender document, ceding the prefectures of Lan, Xian, and Shi, providing an annual tribute of a thousand warhorses, five thousand taels of gold, ten thousand bolts of silk, and sending a royal prince as hostage to serve at the Celestial Dynasty."

"I await Your Majesty's august decision with utmost trepidation."

The wording of the document expressed extreme humility and fear, placing Liu Jun's posture at the lowest possible level.

Becoming a vassal, relinquishing the imperial title, ceding territory, paying indemnities, offering tribute, sending hostages—these virtually encompassed all the humiliating terms a defeated party could accept.

The hall fell silent, save for the envoy's trembling voice echoing within.

Although officials had long anticipated Northern Han's submission, hearing such thorough terms of surrender still stirred in them a strong sense of pride and delight.

How many years has it been?

Since Shi Jingtang of the Later Jin ceded Yan-Yun, when had the Zhongyuan dynasty ever enjoyed such a moment of triumph over northern separatist forces?

Now, under the mighty martial prestige of the Great Chen emperor, even this Northern Han, which had long held Taiyuan and repeatedly raided southward, must crawl on the ground, wagging its tail in supplication!

Chen Wen sat upon the dragon throne, his visage beneath the crown and beads calm and waveless, revealing neither joy nor anger.

He listened quietly to the envoy's recitation, his fingers tapping intermittently on the armrest of the throne.

Only after the envoy finished speaking and again knocked his head to the ground, not daring to rise, did he slowly open his mouth.

His voice was not loud, yet it carried an icy authority that clearly reached every ear.

"Liu Jun..."

He did not address him by his false imperial title nor as a subject, merely uttering his name plainly.

"When you once resisted the imperial army and presumptuously claimed the throne, did you ever imagine this day?"

The Northern Han envoy trembled all over, bowing lower until he seemed about to bury himself in the gold bricks, and spoke in a quivering voice:

"Your Majesty… my lord… no, Liu Jun knows his guilt, repents too late… I beg Your Majesty… to show mercy…"

Chen Wen ignored his pleas, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials.

"What do you all think should be done with this Northern Han request?"

Zhang Cheng, the Chancellor of the Secretariat who had already conferred with others, stepped forward first and bowed, saying:

"Your Majesty, Northern Han comes in utter desperation; their situation is pitiable, yet their sins are unpardonable. Now that they wish to relinquish their title and become vassals, offering land and tribute, this shows their fear. I believe we may grant their request to demonstrate Your Majesty's benevolence and to set the hearts of Hedong's people at ease. However, the details of the terms could still be discussed."

His words set the tone—accept the surrender, but the terms could be made stricter.

The Minister of War then stepped forward:

"Your Majesty, General Shi Dun's forces are at their peak; Taiyuan could fall at any moment. If we make peace now, we risk letting the tiger return to the mountains. Better to order General Shi to strike with full force, take Taiyuan outright, thoroughly pacify Hedong, and eliminate future troubles!"

This is the typical view of the war faction.

The Deputy of the Privy Council, Qian Gui, then spoke lightly:

"Northern Han has lost its elite troops, its populace scattered; even if we temporarily halt our advance, they lack the strength to stir up trouble again. Yet the Khitan loom to the north; should our army become bogged down besieging a strong city, unable to prevail, Yelü Jing might find an opening. Accepting their vassalage and keeping them in check would allow us to focus on governing Hebei, consolidate the newly submitted territories, and face the Khitan. Moreover, to subdue a people without fighting is the highest virtue."

He placed greater emphasis on overall strategy and potential risks.

Officials voiced their opinions—some advocated outright annihilation, others urged accepting vassalage while keeping them under control; the debate continued without cease.

Chen Wen listened silently, having already weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

Completely destroying Northern Han would certainly be satisfying.

But Taiyuan city is formidable; if Liu Jun fights to the death like a cornered beast, Shi Dun could capture it, yet it would inevitably exact a considerable cost and time.

More importantly, as Qian Gui said, the Khitan are the true grave threat.

If our main army were tied down at Taiyuan, we could not guarantee the Khitan would not southward to harass or support remnants of Northern Han, complicating the situation.

Now Northern Han's willingness to become a vassal—nominally entering the Great Chen system, ceding strategic lands, and providing substantial war reparations and annual tribute—not only would it greatly ease Great Chen's financial strain, but it would also yield tangible benefits without fighting, stabilize the northern frontier, and concentrate our strength to confront the Khitan and pursue internal development.

As for Liu Jun—stripped of his title, confined to a corner of Taiyuan, obliged to pay annual tribute, even sending his son as a hostage—what great waves could he still stir up?

Once Great Chen has digested the fruits of victory and its national strength grows, we can at any time find a pretext to erase him completely.

Upon this thought, Chen Wen's mind had already reached a decision.

He raised his hand, and the hall instantly fell silent.

All eyes turned to him.

Since Liu Jun knows his guilt and wishes to discard his false title, forever becoming a vassal subject, I, mindful of Heaven's virtue of cherishing life, cannot bear to let the people of Hedong suffer the ravages of war again.

His voice bore an indifference that decided others' life and death.

Grant his request to become a vassal.

Upon hearing this, the Northern Han envoy, as if granted a great pardon, nearly went limp on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.

Thank Your Majesty's heavenly grace! Thank Your Majesty's heavenly grace!

However, Chen Wen shifted his tone, and his voice suddenly turned stern.

To be a vassal, one must uphold vassal duty!

Order the Imperial Secretariat, the Council of State, and the Ministry of Rites to immediately work out the details of vassalage with the Northern Han envoy!

Abolish the imperial title, use the Great Chen era name, and follow the Great Chen calendar!

The said cession of three prefectures must be transferred immediately, without delay!

The promised annual tribute must be paid in full, delivered on schedule!

The hostage sent must be Liu Jun's own son, and must set out for Bian at once!

Furthermore, add one clause: Northern Han must not privately maintain forces exceeding the limit set for vassal kings; the exact number shall be determined by the Imperial Secretariat!

If any clause is violated, it will be treated as rebellion; I will personally lead the heavenly troops to level Taiyuan, leaving not a blade of grass!

The final words, spoken with a killing intent as icy as a sudden winter, made the Northern Han envoy shiver violently, and he replied in haste:

I will obey the edict! The envoy… no, the subordinate state's messenger will surely report back to my lord word for word… I will certainly carry it out! No two words!

You may go.

Chen Wen waved his hand, no longer looking at him.

A eunuch led the nearly collapsed Northern Han envoy out of the hall.

After a moment of silence in the hall, a heated discussion suddenly erupted.

Your Majesty is sage!

This is the supreme strategy of subduing the enemy without fighting!

The western front is now settled!

The prestige of Great Chen will surely rise to a higher level!

The officials all congratulated Chen Wen, their faces glowing with excitement and honor.

Chen Wen's expression remained calm as ever.

Accepting Northern Han's vassalage is merely one step in the strategic choice.

He gazed at the location of Taiyuan on the map, his eyes deep and inscrutable.

Liu Jun…… let you linger on for a few more days, for now.

One day, if you harbor disloyal intentions, or when you lose your utility, that will be the day Taiyuan falls.

For now, it is more important to make use of this precious period of peace.

The new policies in Hebei need to be deepened;

the navy needs to be strengthened;

the southern states need further pacification or intimidation;

the Ministry of Works' technological research and development needs more support;

and there is the Iron Crow Army, hidden in the shadows, unknown when it will appear together with Zhao Kuangyin……

The Fortune Momentum within him, with Northern Han's submission and the basic removal of the western threat, seemed to have grown a little stronger and smoother.

That intangible Growth Progress Bar was also steadily accumulating.

He knew he was walking the correct path.

But the road to true peace and clarity, to lift the mist shrouding the truth of the world, is still long.

Northern Han's vassalage is not an end, but a new beginning.