Late Han Zhao Tang

Although the fiefdoms granted to the various princes varied in distance, the essence was to enfeoff them in border regions. According to Zhang Yu's long-term plan, there should be at least two, or even three, princes from the Zhang family in the southwest, southeast, northeast, and northwest.

For example, the enfeoffment of three kings in the southwest required covering the three most fertile and crucial areas in the south, namely Kunming (Jianning Commandery), Dali (Yunnan Commandery), and Guiyang (Zangke Commandery) in later generations. Among them, Zangke Commandery was the core hub connecting the south to Jingzhou.

If three kings were enfeoffed in the southeast, Jiaozhi, Hepu, and Jian'an (Fujian) would likely be the most fertile prefectures in Lingnan. Controlling Jiaozhi would allow control over Jiaozhou. Even if the central government weakened, if a member of the imperial clan was enfeoffed in Jiaozhi, he would be able to establish a separatist regime in Lingnan, thus preventing the emergence of warlords of different surnames.

The purpose of enfeoffing the three kings in Hepu and Jian'an prefectures was primarily to accelerate the Sinicization of the local barbarians. If the Central Plains weakened, the three kings could coordinate their efforts to ensure the Tang dynasty's rule in the southeast.

The three kings of the Northeast were the commanderies of Changli, Xuantu, and Lelang. Changli Commandery radiated outwards to the Leshui Grassland (Khorchin Grassland), aiming to deter the Xianbei, Wuhuan, and other nomadic tribes living on the grassland. Xuantu Commandery radiated outwards to the northeast, controlling the fishing and hunting peoples between the Changbai Mountains and the Heilongjiang River. Lelang Commandery expanded towards the Korean Peninsula, gradually occupying the peninsula.

The three kings of the Northwest were roughly located in Beidi, Yunzhong, and Xiping. Beidi Commandery is the present-day Yinchuan City. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the people were relocated inland due to the Qiang rebellion. The purpose of enfeoffing a king to Yinchuan was to restore the rule of the Han people on the Houtao Plain, to protect the safety of Guanzhong, and to safeguard the road from Hexi to Guanzhong.

The Yunzhong King's territory was larger than the Yunzhong Commandery of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It encompassed the former Yunzhong Commandery and the former Xiongnu territories of Meiji and Manbo south of the Yellow River. The Yunzhong Commandery was abandoned after being relocated during the Eastern Han Dynasty. The enfeoffment of the Xiongnu King here was simply to relocate the Xiongnu to the Yunzhong Commandery, firstly to restore the old Hetao region of Yunzhong, and secondly to relocate the Xiongnu to protect the border.

The establishment of the state in Xiping Commandery was simply to establish a stronghold in the Hehuang Valley, to intimidate and pacify the Qiang people in the valley, and to see if a passage could be opened from the Hehuang Valley through the Western Sea to the Western Regions.

In total, Zhang Yu needed at least twelve sons to be enfeoffed in border prefectures to achieve his grand vision of shielding China and expanding his territory. However, compared to the actual number of sons enfeoffed, including the son born to Zhen Mi not long ago, the number of enfeoffed sons was significantly less.

Therefore, in order to achieve his goal, Zhang Yu had a strong desire to have children. For a period of time after being enfeoffed, he favored his concubines almost every night, experiencing both happiness and pain.

"Your Majesty, the deer blood is ready. Shall we drink it now?" Zhang Hang asked, holding a lacquered bowl.

Since indulging his desires, Zhang Hang was afraid that Zhang Yu would overindulge, so he ordered people to hunt deer to nourish Zhang Yu.

"Just put it there!" Zhang Yu said, rubbing his temples.

"promise!"

After putting down the bowl, Zhang Hang hesitated, as if he had something difficult to say.

"what happened?"

Zhang Yu saw through Zhang Hang's thoughts and asked.

“Your Majesty has been favoring your concubines for a month now, and you look rather haggard lately. Should you rest for a few days to avoid damaging your health?” Zhang Hang said, “I am thinking of Your Majesty’s health. If Your Majesty is in good health, then please consider my words as nonsense.”

As a former eunuch, Zhang Hang had always been hesitant to speak much, let alone offer advice to Zhang Yu, fearing Zhang Yu might be displeased. However, seeing Zhang Yu's haggard appearance, he felt compelled to offer his advice.

After assessing his own health, Zhang Yu smiled and said, "I would never refuse your wise words. I will rest in the palace today."

"promise!"

Seeing that Zhang Yu acknowledged his advice, Zhang Hang's inner tension finally dissipated.

"The imperial edict to enfeoff princes has recently been issued. What are the opinions of the concubines and princes?" Zhang Yu asked.

Zhang Hang pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I know that since I was enfeoffed as a king in a border prefecture, my concubines are worried that their children's fiefdom will be a place of barbarians, so they often complain. I hope Your Majesty can change the fiefdom to an inner prefecture."

"What do you think?"

Zhang Hang tactfully said, “Your Majesty is like Emperor Gaozu, and your thinking is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Although I can understand the concubines’ concern for their offspring, I know even more that Your Majesty has the world in your heart. The princes are not only the offspring of the concubines, but also Your Majesty’s sons. Your Majesty’s decision to grant these princes distant fiefdoms must have a reason.”

"If all the concubines were as you wished, then everything would be fine today!" Zhang Yu sighed.

Although Zhang Yu had been indulging in revelry every night for the past month, few of his concubines with children visited him. Apart from Arahai, the remaining concubines tried to persuade Zhang Yu to change his title, among whom the most resentful was Empress Wang Ji.

In Wang Ji's eyes, it was fine for a son born of a concubine to be enfeoffed in a border region, but she could not accept that her second son, Zhang Wei, was enfeoffed as a king in Xiping, thousands of miles away. In her mind, Zhang Wei should be enfeoffed as a king in the Central Plains or Hebei, so that even if he did not have power, he could still live a life of wealth and honor. Therefore, recently, whenever she saw Zhang Yu, Wang Ji would take the opportunity to persuade Zhang Yu to change his enfeoffment, which gave Zhang Yu a headache.

“The women in the inner palace may not know Your Majesty’s good intentions, but the princes should be able to understand them,” Zhang Hang comforted her.

"Never mind!" Knowing he couldn't persuade the concubines who were so eager to see their son, Zhang Yu resigned himself to his fate, saying, "If this commotion continues for several months, I'll realize I can't change the imperial edict, so I'll give up!"

Zhang Hang remained silent, knowing that this was beyond his control. The fact that His Majesty had sought his sympathy was simply a sign that no one understood his plight.

After Zhang Yu made a few complaints, Guo Tu requested an audience outside the palace.

"Your subject Tu pays his respects to Your Majesty!" Guo Tu bowed and performed the proper greeting.

"What is it?"

Mi Heng is dead!

Guo Tu stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Gongsun Du has submitted a memorial stating that Mi Heng was unfortunately killed by the Hu people while traveling. He now begs Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

"Oh?"

Zhang Yu, intrigued, said, "In that case, issue an imperial edict urging Gongsun Du to punish the traitors and avenge Mi Heng."

Gongsun Du reported that Mi Heng had died at the hands of the Hu people. Zhang Yu certainly wouldn't believe it, but Zhang Yu had no intention of investigating the cause of Mi Heng's death. After all, in his original plan, he sent Mi Heng on a mission to Liaodong in the hope of using Gongsun Du to kill Mi Heng.

"His Majesty!"

Guo Tu advised, "Although Your Majesty dislikes Mi Heng, Mi Heng was sent as an envoy to Liaodong on Your Majesty's orders. Now that the envoy has been murdered, Your Majesty must investigate the matter."

Zhang Yu nodded slightly and asked, "What you say makes sense. What do you think?"

Guo Tu said, "His Majesty issued an edict to punish Gongsun Du and order him to capture the murderer and send him to Chang'an, so that outsiders may know His Majesty's authority."

"allow!"

In truth, Mi Heng's death was quite unjust. When he first went on his mission to Liaodong, he tempered his temper somewhat and spoke with great respect to Gongsun Du. Gongsun Du, seeing that Mi Heng was a superior scholar from the Central Plains, treated him with great courtesy in order to demonstrate his respect for the virtuous and learned.

However, as time went on, Mi Heng's true nature was revealed. He expressed his contempt for Gongsun Du and his subordinates in his words, which eventually angered the narrow-minded Gongsun Du. Because of Mi Heng's status as an official in Chang'an, Gongsun Du did not take direct action. Instead, he adopted the advice of his advisors and deliberately let Mi Heng leave the city, arranging for him to be ambushed and killed along the way.

Regardless of the cause of Mi Heng's death, he was ultimately Zhang Yu's envoy. Now that Mi Heng is dead, as Guo Tu said, he cannot do nothing; he must put on a show, otherwise how can he convince the world?

Is there anything else?

Guo Tu handed over the letter, saying, "This letter from Yizhou is written by Sun Quan and concerns a hostage and a marriage alliance."

Zhang Yu opened the letter and read its contents. He saw that Sun Quan explained why he could not send a hostage. He said that his daughter had already been married off to Chang'an, and Lady Wu was already struggling to make ends meet. After learning that Zhang Yu was asking for his youngest son as a hostage, Lady Wu fell ill and never recovered. Therefore, Sun Quan hoped that Zhang Yu could allow the hostage to stay and arrange the marriage temporarily.

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment. To be honest, what Sun Quan wanted was something he couldn't easily resolve. If he really forced Lady Wu to her death because of the hostage incident, and Sun Quan used the opportunity to spread the news, his reputation would likely be affected.

"Your Majesty, what about Sun Quan's letter?"

Seeing that Zhang Yu's expression was unusual, Guo Tu asked.

"Lady Wu dotes on her youngest son, and because our court demands a hostage to come to court, she has fallen ill with worry. Now Sun Quan has sent a letter requesting that his younger brother not come to court for the time being, so that he can take care of Lady Wu," Zhang Yu said, frowning.

Guo Tu stroked his beard and pondered, then said, "Judging from this, I fear Sun Quan's intention to surrender is not sincere."

After considering for a long time, Zhang Yu said, "I allow my younger brother to remain in Chengdu to take care of our elderly mother. As for the marriage alliance, let Sun Quan set a time so that the court can make preparations!"

"promise!"

P.S.: Chapter 3 has been updated (End of this chapter)