novelAbuy Chapter 190 Dividing the River into Two Regions for Governance
Chapter 190 Dividing the River into Two Regions for Governance
Shen Yue, carrying Star King Chen Xing's declaration of "unification of the world" and Jia Wen's meaningful hints, returned to Jiankang as if burdened by an invisible mountain. The news sent shockwaves through the court and the public. The pro-war faction was speechless, and the pro-peace faction turned pale—the other side didn't even want to submit or pay tribute; they only wanted complete allegiance. How could they negotiate "peace"? Were they really going to sit and wait for the city to fall and the country to perish?
Panic reached its peak in Jiankang. More wealthy families fled, and even some lower-ranking officials began using connections to secure promotions or simply resigned. Rumors spread like wildfire, with some even claiming that "the Star Army will soon cross the river, and Jiankang will fall in no time." Inside the palace, the young Emperor Xiao Gang fell seriously ill, bedridden, and the court was virtually paralyzed, barely maintained by a few ministers and eunuchs.
However, just when the storm was brewing and people were in despair, a few days later, a message came from the Jiangbei Star Army camp that surprised everyone.
King Chen Xing, through a semi-public channel, conveyed a new message to the Jiangnan region: Given that the Southern Dynasty emperor was "young and weak, not a proponent of war," and that "the people of Jiangnan are innocent and have long suffered from war," he, "King Chen Xing, wish to uphold Heaven's benevolence and temporarily cease hostilities." Provided the Southern Dynasty court publicly promises that it will "never invade the north again" and "pays an annual tribute of 500,000 taels of gold and silk," the Xing Kingdom's army can "temporarily retreat a hundred li," and both sides will "take the Yangtze River as the boundary, each guarding their own territory," and agree to "exchange envoys to demarcate the boundary and establish trade and peace."
The message even hinted that if the Southern Dynasty showed sufficient sincerity, the Star King might consider "accepting the Southern Dynasty emperor's brother as a hostage to solidify the alliance."
This news was like the last straw a drowning person grasped at, instantly stirring up huge and unbelievable waves in the Southern Dynasty court and among the powerful clans of Jiangdong.
"Divide the country along the river? Star King... has changed his mind?"
"An annual tribute of 500,000 taels of gold and silk... though enormous, what does it amount to compared to the fall of a nation?"
"Brother Zhi? This... though it would damage the nation's dignity, if it could buy us a chance to catch our breath..."
"Could it be a scam?"
"A feint? The Star Army, riding high on its great victory, is at the city's gates. While crossing the river for a direct assault wouldn't be easy, it's not impossible. Why go through all this trouble? Perhaps the Wulin water attack is underway, and the Star Army itself needs rest? Or is there some internal strife? Or... are they wary of my Jiangnan navy?"
Various speculations arose. Some were skeptical, but many more breathed a sigh of relief, as if they saw a glimmer of hope in their desperate situation. This was especially true of the powerful clans who were already pro-peace or had secret escape routes, who actively pushed for it.
After several days of urgent and secret consultations, the Southern Dynasty finally decided to seize this "hard-won" opportunity. They dispatched a second, higher-level delegation led by Shen Yue and Gu Yong, carrying official credentials and the first batch of huge "annual tributes," to Jiangbei again.
This meeting was quite different in atmosphere from the last. Chen Xing no longer made grand pronouncements; instead, he appeared rather "pragmatic" and even slightly "tired." When receiving the Southern Dynasty envoy in the central military tent, he calmly stated, "I originally intended to conquer Jiangnan in one fell swoop, but the continuous battles have exhausted my soldiers, and the northern lands have recently submitted to Xiliang, requiring extensive reconstruction and rest. Jiangnan is wealthy, with a network of waterways; a forced conquest would only increase casualties. If the Southern Dynasty is truly sincere, ceasing hostilities and establishing peace would allow the people of both the north and south to enjoy temporary tranquility, which would be the best course of action."
He accepted the letter and annual tribute from the Southern Dynasty and agreed to send officials to jointly survey the border with the Southern Dynasty's envoys, agreeing that the existing control line would serve as the general boundary, with the Yangtze River as the natural dividing line, and details to be discussed later. Regarding the issue of "hostageing his brother," he did not insist further, only stating that it "could be determined based on the Southern Dynasty's subsequent sincerity." At the same time, he announced that the Xing Army would "withdraw in batches to show sincerity," with the first batch being Zhang Heng's cavalry and some auxiliary troops.
The entire peace negotiation process, led by Jia Wen, was highly efficient. The two sides quickly signed a provisional treaty with vague wording, but which temporarily established the principles of "ceasefire" and "division along the Yangtze River." The Southern Dynasty envoys, especially Gu Yong, saw that Chen Xing's attitude had "softened" and that Xing's army did show signs of withdrawing. Although they still had doubts, they were greatly relieved, feeling that they had at least bought Jiangdong valuable buffer time.
When the news reached Jiangnan, the whole city rejoiced, as if a catastrophic disaster had been miraculously postponed. Emperor Xiao Gang's illness even seemed to have improved somewhat. He issued an edict to commend the envoys and began to plan how to collect the remaining annual tribute and how to use this period of "peace" to strengthen defenses and appease the people.
However, the reality was quite different in the Star Army camp and in the royal entourage that subsequently returned quietly north.
"Your Majesty's strategy of retreating to advance this time is extremely brilliant." In the imperial carriage returning north, Jia Wen sat opposite Chen Xing and said in a low voice, "After this great defeat and shock, the Southern Dynasty is like a frightened bird. The sudden acquisition of the 'peace agreement' will surely be a treasure for them, and they will not dare to provoke any border conflicts in the short term. Their court and powerful clans will definitely turn their energy to internal power struggles, collecting annual tributes, and... being happy to have a temporary peace. As far as I am concerned, the Western Liang has just been pacified, and the reform of its political and military system is underway. The movements of the Snow Wolf Clan in the Northern Frontier are unclear, and the navy is newly established. We do need time to consolidate and digest this situation. This piece of paper will bring us a year or two of stable development. The price is nothing more than some empty fame and the gold and silk that we will have to take back sooner or later."
Chen Xing leaned back on the cushions, closing his eyes to rest. Hearing this, a slight smile played on his lips: "Wenhe, do you think Gu Yong and Liu Kun really believed it?"
Jia Wen sneered: "Believe it? Gu Yong might be half-convinced, but he's more inclined to believe it's the 'deterrence' brought by his Jiangdong navy and geography, and the 'insufficiency' within our Xing Kingdom. Liu Kun, fresh from his defeat, is terrified and only seeks self-preservation, desperately wanting this chance to catch his breath. As for the Jiankang court... it's nothing but self-deception. All they need is an excuse to appease their panic and maintain appearances. We've given them that excuse."
"Not bad." Chen Xing opened his eyes, his gaze sharp. "I need time to fully develop the new army trained using the 'Wumu Legacy,' to completely assimilate the Western Liang forces, to train the navy into a combat-ready force, and to further enrich the treasury. At the same time, I also need to allow Jiangnan to further decay, divide, and lower its guard under the guise of peace. When the time is ripe..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.
"Your Majesty, rest assured," Jia Wen said. "The Censorate's network in Jiangnan will be further strengthened. The rumors will not stop, but will only be guided more subtly. The conflicts between the Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang families, Liu Kun's resentment, and the weakness of the Jiankang court will all be amplified. The Su Inner Court will also take advantage of the trade opportunities to conduct economic infiltration. When we are ready, or when internal strife breaks out again in Jiangnan, this 'Yangtze River boundary' will be nothing but a piece of waste paper."
Chen Xing nodded in satisfaction. He gazed out the car window at the increasingly familiar northern scenery rushing past, a surge of pride welling up within him. This temporary retreat was for a more ferocious advance. Divide the country along the river? No, that was merely a smokescreen to lull the enemy into a false sense of security. His ambition had never wavered, nor had it ever strayed from its course.
After making a "retreat" gesture and leaving some troops to garrison the newly captured key points north of the river, the main force of the Star Army began its orderly return north. The people along the way, seeing the royal army's "triumphant return," welcomed them with food and drink, and cheered thunderously. The army was disciplined and its morale was high; compared to their southward march, they possessed a greater sense of composure and confidence befitting seasoned veterans.
Chen Xing, on the other hand, turned his gaze northward, to Xinghuo Royal City, to Murong Mingyue and the Crown Prince who were waiting for his return, and to the mountain of political affairs and grand plans concerning the future.