Chapter 780

The fourth year of Shaoming of the Great Zhou, 949 CE, the eighth day of the eleventh month — an auspicious day.

Zhang Zhao led twenty thousand cavalry and infantry across the Yangtze under the cover of the Wuyue navy, and soon arrived at Jiangning.

The newly appointed King of Wu, Li Jing, led the civil and military officials of the former Southern Tang ten li beyond the city to welcome him.

Li Jing had, at the final moment, offered up his lands in submission, rather than fleeing to Hongzhou with his tens of thousands of naval troops — thus avoiding becoming a prisoner who surrendered only with enemy troops at the city walls, and saving Zhang Zhao a good deal of trouble.

For that reason, Zhang Zhao did not make him arrange any bare-chested, sheep-led surrender ceremony, but simply followed the normal rites for a vassal king welcoming his sovereign.

Afterward, the specifications of the former Southern Tang ancestral temple were lowered, the Altars of Soil and Grain were demolished, the Purple Tenuity Palace at Jiangning was renamed Jiankang Palace, Li Jing was moved to a side residence, and Zhang Zhao himself took up residence in Jiankang Palace.

On the seventeenth of the eleventh month, Zhang Zhao's legal mother, the Empress Dowager Ciyou, née Li, and his birth mother, the Empress Dowager Cisheng, née Song, who had long been on the road, also arrived at Jiangning.

The two of them had long heard that the scenery of Jiangnan was extraordinary and of the fame of the "four hundred and eighty temples of the Southern Dynasties," and had come to sightsee.

Of course, there was also a political task in it — without Zhang Zhao's tacit approval and Empress Dowager Ciyou's encouragement, a person of Song's character would never have taken the initiative to correspond with Li Jing's wife, née Zhong.

The letter that Zhong received had in fact first been delivered to Zhang Zhao, and only then passed on to Zhong.

Once the two empress dowagers arrived, Li Jing and his wife grew even more at ease. Empress Dowager Ciyou, née Li, recognized Li Jing as her nephew; Empress Dowager Cisheng recognized Zhong as her adopted daughter; and Zhang Zhao himself addressed Li Jing as "younger brother." On the surface, all was harmony.

It is just that I, Sage Zhang, have always had a tradition of doing in my elder brothers.

Before he entered Liangzhou, he swore up and down that he would recognize the Acting Military Governor of Liangzhou, Li Wenqian, as his elder brother — and in the end sent Guo Tiance to frighten this unstable Acting Governor Li into taking his own life.

He swore brotherhood with Yelu Deguang, and in the end made the man into an emperor-jerky.

One wonders whether these two younger brothers can keep their footing.

Having settled the affairs of Li Jing's family, Zhang Zhao, out of a desire to pay his respects to a famous personage, specially summoned the great ci poet — now called Li Congjia — the Last Ruler of Southern Tang.

At first sight, Zhang Zhao felt that he truly deserved his undying fame. Li Congjia's appearance — there was simply nothing to fault.

Though only twelve, he was tall and slender, his eyes like a pool of autumn water. His bearing in walking and sitting was extremely proper, showing excellent cultivation. He was also very intelligent, with high emotional intelligence, and answered with perfect propriety — apart from being slightly shy.

Sage Zhang was very satisfied. He also knew this man's literary fame from history — a master of an entire age of ci. In both poetry and ci together, he ranked at least in the top fifteen; in ci alone, he absolutely ranked in the top five.

And his lifespan was decent too. In history, had he not been poisoned by Zhao the Second, he could casually have lived to sixty with assurance. A man like this as a son-in-law — that was a high-spec match.

However, Zhang Zhao was a little puzzled. He had met Li Jing too — the man could only be called passable-looking. Yet Li Yu and Li Hongji both had sword-like brows, star-bright eyes, and dashing bearing.

Li Yu in particular — he did not look like Wu Qilong, but bore seven or eight parts resemblance to a young Zunlong, only slighter. And he was just twelve! Already he could make people feel he was handsome — simply too monstrous.

At least for now, it seemed that in the future he would surely be a super-handsome man to be ranked alongside Murong Xinzhang, Pan Mei, and Han Kuangmei (the great beauty Han Derang's uncle).

So then, Zhang Zhao rubbed his chin. The father was ordinary, but both sons were great beauties — which most likely meant they had inherited their good looks from their mother.

Could it be that Li Yu's mother, née Zhong, was a devastatingly beautiful married woman of peerless charm — pah! A beauty?

That strikes right at my Sage Zhang's tastes.

At this thought, Zhang Zhao could not help but feel a wave of heat through his body, his heart itching unbearably. He did not know how many times he circled the room, constantly admonishing himself.

"No, no. You are not Cao Mengde. You must not be so fond of married women. Even if you are, Cao Mengde's bitter lesson at Wancheng is still vivid before your eyes.

If over a trifle like this you lost Li Cunhui, Dunzhu, or the like, would you not be laughed at for a thousand or two thousand years, just like Cao Mengde?"

It must be said, every emperor through the ages has needed a trusted eunuch. The moment Director Dong saw Zhang Zhao's state, he knew what Zhang Zhao was thinking without Zhang Zhao saying a word.

It was obvious, was it not? After summoning those two graceful young lords Li Hongji and Li Congjia, my Sage Zhang could neither sit nor lie still, as if in heat. The Sage had no taste for men, so he could only have been reminded of something.

But if Director Dong had at that moment chosen Li Jing's wife, née Zhong, as the target, he would not have been so favored by Zhang Zhao, and his style would have been a notch lower.

Director Dong knew very well what path my Sage Zhang walked. If Li Jing had gone to meet the King of Hell, then Director Dong would certainly have quietly delivered Zhong to the Sage.

But Li Jing was still alive, and could barely be counted a meritorious subject. To do such a thing now — would that not be damaging the towering image of my Sage Zhang? What would the world think?

A eunuch — so what if he is a eunuch? He too must have political awareness, and keep step with his sovereign at all times.

"Sage, I have heard that the former Eastern Capital Garrison Commander Zhou Zong has a daughter, named Zhou Xian, childhood name Ehuang. Not yet of age, yet born with a beauty that could topple a kingdom. I went to look yesterday, and it is indeed true. That Zhou Zong was frightened ill by our army's brave lads, and lives not far outside Jiankang Palace."

Zhou Xian? Unfamiliar! Zhou Ehuang, though, was somewhat familiar.

Zhang Zhao thought for a moment. Ah! If nothing unexpected, this was probably the historical Senior Empress Zhou. It was said the Senior Empress Zhou was a year older than Li Yu, so she should be thirteen this year.

Zhang Zhao was somewhat moved, but on his face he gave a cold snort and put on a disbelieving look. "You old fellow always talk big. A little girl of twelve or thirteen — how can you tell she has a kingdom-toppling beauty?"

Seeing Zhang Zhao like this, Director Dong knew there was hope. Knowing Sage Zhang's temperament, he understood that this Shaoming Son of Heaven was always a bit duplicitous and posturing on such matters. To speak this way today meant he actually very much wanted to see her.

"Your Majesty, rest a moment. I shall go and return shortly."

Director Dong made a bow and hurried off. The Duke of Wei truly was filial — before even entering the city he had inquired and learned that Zhou Zong had a daughter of kingdom-toppling beauty, and the moment he entered the city he had sent troops to guard her. He must be sure to put in a good word for him later.

"Holy shit!" A quarter hour later, my Sage Zhang, looking at the little girl before him in a tender-green padded jacket and skirt, blurted out, "Green Witch."

The resemblance was too much! Zhang Zhao looked left and right, up and down, until the little girl went from shyness to something like terror, and only then did he click his tongue and step back.

For no other reason — this little lass was at least nine parts similar to that Green Witch from the Dancing Dharma Maidens, one could even say almost identical.

No wonder at thirteen she could be called a kingdom-toppling beauty. Whether she would still be this pretty when older, he did not know, but right now she was truly very beautiful.

It was not the kind of beauty of a certain former female star surnamed Fan — the kind that at a glance makes one think of a fox-spirit and want to press her onto the bed.

Rather, it was a mischievous, impish beauty of indescribable loveliness, like a pure and playful Seventh Fairy Maiden fallen to the mortal world.

Refining copper BIS, refining copper BIS.

After silently repeating this several times, Sage Zhang worked hard to put away the look of a lecherous uncle. A little girl like this, raised for another three or four years, would be utterly delicious.

"Would Ehuang be willing to come to my side? In my daily handling of documents, I happen to need someone literate and attentive."

Zhou Ehuang's round eyes blinked, and two red clouds flew back onto her cheeks. How could she not know what entering the palace meant? When she left, the whole family had watched her go with expectant eyes.

Even if she was unwilling in her heart — what a joke. The person before her was the supreme sovereign of all under heaven. At Zhang Zhao's position, whatever he wanted, those who dared say no were far too few.

Zhou Ehuang, a little girl, naturally did not dare resist either. She could only blink her watery eyes and say softly, "This servant is naturally willing. But please, Sage, grant a few days' grace. Once Father's illness improves a little, this servant will come at once."

"That is only natural. Filial piety is foremost among all virtues!" Zhang Zhao nodded with great satisfaction. If this little girl had been willing to cling to him while ignoring her gravely ill father, he would actually have been a little afraid.

"Dong Zhen, summon renowned physicians to treat Ehuang's father. If palace medicines are needed, use them freely.

Grant Ehuang fifty bolts of Shu brocade and a set of eight-treasure jewelry, and have the Brocade Guard dispatch a squad of strongmen to protect her." Zhang Zhao waved his hand grandly. Such a fine cabbage — he had to keep a close eye on it.

On the twenty-first of the twelfth month, having found the Senior Empress Zhou, Zhang Zhao was in excellent spirits, and more than once summoned the little girl to the palace to keep him company in conversation, his fondness showing plainly.

And during these days of good cheer, Ma Zhaoyuan left Du (Lun) Chixin to hold Jiangzhou, while he himself led forty thousand troops downriver along the Yangtze and arrived at Jiangning.

With him came the six great Military Governors of the former Southern Tang: of Wuchang Army in Ezhou, of Baoxin Army in Luzhou, of Fenghua Army in Jiangzhou, of Xuanhua Army in Hongzhou, of Anhua Army in Raozhou, and of Ningguo Army in Xuanzhou.

Only now did Zhang Zhao also clearly understand that, even without the Military Governor of Zhaowu Army in Fuzhou, the Military Governor of Baisheng Army in Qianzhou, and the Military Governor of Yong'an Army in Jianzhou having arrived, these six Military Governors alone could muster more than forty thousand troops of water and land, infantry and cavalry.

The whole of Southern Tang, apart from Jiangning Prefecture and Jiangdu Prefecture, still had seventy or eighty thousand troops.

Although it was unlikely they could all be gathered together, and their fighting strength was not particularly high, if there truly was a leader, fighting a messy war would still be quite troublesome.

Now, thanks to Li Jing's tactfulness, the next step was to properly reorganize the two states of Southern Tang and Wuyue. Otherwise, merely changing the Military Governor in form would make it impossible to command the core local magnates of these two states.

(End of Chapter)

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