Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 237 Chen Xing's Decision

The echoes from north and south, like the monsoon winds that gradually rise in Jiangnan during autumn and winter, began as mere ripples on the treetops and murmurs in the streams, but within a short span of ten days, they coalesced into a vast and undeniable force sweeping across the land. This sound pierced through the walls of the military camp, crossed the waves of the Yangtze River, and reverberated faintly over every inch of the empire's territory, ultimately coalescing into an invisible yet heavy pressure that weighed heavily on the desk in the study of the Flying Tiger Pass commander, and also on the heart of Chen Xing, who sat behind it.

On one side of the desk, among the newly piled documents, besides the regular military reports, there were many memorials, congratulatory messages, and letters urging the emperor to ascend the throne, bearing the seals of various ministries, prefectures, and counties in the Northern Capital, as well as some respected retired officials and local elders. The wording of these documents may vary, some being subtle and tactful, others direct and fervent, some quoting classical texts, others simple and earnest, but the core meaning is surprisingly consistent: praising the emperor's unparalleled achievements, expressing gratitude for the emperor's grace in restoring order, and then, either explicitly or implicitly, earnestly requesting the emperor to "follow the will of Heaven and the people," "assume the throne as soon as possible," and "receive the mandate of Heaven above and bring peace to the people below."

The daily summaries of public opinion submitted by the Censorate clearly outlined the trajectory of this trend: it gradually spread from the officialdom of the Northern Capital and the scholars of the Imperial Academy to various prefectures and cities in the north, and now similar voices are beginning to emerge in Danyang, Wu County, and other places that have just submitted. Even in the front-line military camps, some junior officers and soldiers often use "our Emperor" instead of "Your Majesty" or "Your Majesty the Emperor" in private discussions, as if the title "Emperor" is already taken for granted and only lacks a formal edict.

This force, seemingly intangible, is nonetheless very real. It cannot be entirely controlled by a few individuals like Jia Wen or Zhao Tiezhu, but is built upon Chen Xing's substantial achievements in both civil and military affairs over the past decade, as well as the current unstoppable momentum of the southern campaign. It is a natural product of popular will and the inevitable trend of the times. It is both the ultimate affirmation of Chen Xing's personal prestige and represents the strong desire of the entire imperial ruling class and a considerable portion of the people for "the establishment of a new dynasty and the unification of the world," as well as their immense expectations for the future.

Chen Xing could no longer simply respond with "I need to think it over" as he had when Jia Wen urged him to take the plunge alone. This wave had already formed, and he had to make a clear decision that could guide this force and transform it into a favorable factor.

In the stillness of the night, the charcoal fire burned in the study, yet it could not dispel the deep contemplation etched on Chen Xing's brow. He dismissed all his attendants and stood alone before the enormous map of the world, now marked with the latest territory controlled by the Xingqi Army. From the northern grasslands to the shores of the South China Sea, from the shifting sands of the Western Regions to the waves of the East China Sea, much of the land had been stained with the black color representing Xingqi. The red area in a corner of Jiangnan was being relentlessly squeezed and eroded by this black color from the west, north, and even southwest, teetering on the brink of destruction.

His fingers, unconsciously tracing the Yangtze River, touched Caishiji, then slowly moved towards Jinling. Military victory was almost a foregone conclusion. But as Jia Wen had said, conquering the world is easy, governing it is difficult. Becoming emperor was far more than simply acquiring a more prestigious title. It was a completely new beginning, signifying a formal shift in his role from "pioneer" to "conservative ruler" and "established emperor"; it meant facing more complex court balancing, more demanding institutional construction, and more profound cultural integration; it also meant that his personal family and emotions would be placed under the stricter scrutiny and constraints of imperial etiquette and the rules of the previous dynasty.

Murong Mingyue, Su Xiaoxiao, Lin Wan'er, Lan Fenghuang… the images of these women flashed through his mind. After becoming emperor, the positions of concubines, the appointment of princes, and the relationships with maternal relatives… all these would become issues he had to formally confront, and could potentially cause turmoil. Could he properly handle these personal feelings and relationships while ensuring the stability of the empire?

There were also the meritorious generals who had followed him through thick and thin, the newly surrendered gentry of Jiangnan, and the unruly vassal states from all directions… The title of emperor was a double-edged sword; it could bring supreme authority, but it could also become the focus of conflict. Rewarding merit and punishing demerit, balancing the interests of all parties, required more sophisticated tactics and a more complete system than during the reign of "Xing Gong".

However, weighing the pros and cons, the decision to declare himself emperor was already irreversible. This wave of "north-south coordination" was essentially a necessary step for the empire to "legitimize" its power and find an "outlet" after it had consolidated its strength to a certain extent. Forcibly suppressing it would only dampen the enthusiasm of the subjects and might even incite suspicion and unease, which would be detrimental to the overall situation. Going with the flow would greatly boost morale, intimidate the enemy, accelerate the return of the people of Jiangnan to the country, and establish an indisputable core for the massive post-war state apparatus.

The key lies in the timing and the method.

Chen Xing turned around, walked back to his desk, spread out a sheet of plain white Xuan paper, picked up his imperial brush, but did not dip it in ink. In his mind, he reorganized and refined Jia Wen's words, the requests of the ministers, and his own thoughts.

Don't rush. Don't let the tide push you along; you must take control of your own pace.

We cannot delay. The situation is already set in stone; further delay will only be counterproductive.

Therefore, set a clear goal, a milestone that is sufficient to bear the weight of "ascension to the throne".

His gaze once again fell upon Jinling on the map. The last capital of the Southern Dynasties, a symbol of resistance in Jiangnan, and the ultimate marker of the era of division.

The pen finally fell, writing four bold, powerful characters on the paper:

"The Day of the Capture of Nanjing"

This is the dividing line. The day that Chen Xing conquers Jinling, the capital of the Southern Dynasty, completely destroys the Southern Dynasty court, and achieves military unification of the North and South will be the day he, Chen Xing, in accordance with the will of Heaven and the people, formally ascends the throne, declares himself emperor, and establishes a new dynasty!

This decision both responded to the overwhelming calls for his ascension, providing clear expectations, and directly linked the coronation ceremony to the final victory in the unification war, making it a grand ceremony to celebrate victory and proclaim the Mandate of Heaven, rather than an isolated coronation of power. In this way, it maximized the unity of the military and the people, perfectly combining personal prestige with imperial achievements, and also bought valuable time for preparing the ceremony and subsequent regime building.

After writing these four words, Chen Xing felt a sudden sense of relief, as if the anxieties and pressures of the past few days had finally found an outlet. He continued writing, beginning to draft a secret edict outline for key officials such as Jia Wen and Zhao Tiezhu. The content was roughly as follows:

First, I know of your loyalty and understand the will of Heaven and the people. However, the throne is not merely a source of honor and favor, but also a weighty responsibility. I dare not accept it lightly before I have accomplished my goal.

Second, we hereby agree on the day when the capital of the Southern Dynasty, Jinling, is recaptured. When the royal army breaks through Jinling, captures the false emperor and his ministers, and unifies the North and South, that will be the day when I, in accordance with the Mandate of Heaven, offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and assume the throne.

Thirdly, prior to this, all ministers may secretly prepare for relevant ceremonies, adjustments to the official system, and regulations for rewarding merits, striving for thoroughness and solemnity to showcase the grandeur of the new dynasty. However, in external affairs, military matters must remain the top priority; we must not put the cart before the horse, nor should we publicize them excessively, lest we confuse the morale of the army or cause the remnants of the Southern Dynasty to fight like cornered beasts.

Fourth, the affairs of the Northern Capital shall continue to be overseen by the Empress, assisted by the ministers, and must be handled with utmost care to ensure stability. The pacification of Jiangnan and the resettlement of those affected by the war must be expedited to ensure the establishment of a new dynasty.

After writing, Chen Xing put down his pen, gently blew away the ink, carefully folded the paper, placed it in a specially made copper tube, and stamped it with his personal seal. This was his way of reassuring his important officials, and also the path and end point he drew for this wave of "urging him to ascend the throne."

"Someone come here," he called out in a deep voice.

The guards entered immediately.

"Immediately send this secret edict, as quickly as possible, to Minister Jia in the Northern Capital, Minister Zhao, and... Minister Jia in the Military Camp." Chen Xing handed over the copper tube, his gaze calm and resolute. "Tell them that my mind is made up. I hope all of you will perform your duties and help me to recapture Jinling as soon as possible and welcome the new dynasty!"

"As you command!" The guard took the copper tube with both hands and retreated solemnly.

Silence returned to the study. Chen Xing walked to the window, pushed it open, and the cool, damp night breeze rushed in, instantly invigorating him. The night sky was as black as ink, with stars appearing and disappearing, and a faint line of dawn was quietly spreading across the eastern horizon.

The decision has been made, the path is clear. Next, all forces will be concentrated to launch the final, and most devastating, assault on that ultimate goal—Jinling. The day the black dragon banner of Xingqi flies atop the eaves of the Southern Dynasty palace will mark the true beginning of a new imperial era for Chen Xing!