Jinting Han people

There was actually considerable controversy within the court regarding the southern expedition to Ningzhou.

Ningzhou, also known as Nanzhong, was a barren land inhabited by the Yi and Yue peoples before the Han Dynasty. It was home to more than a dozen kingdoms, including Dianpu, Gou-ting, Yelang, Yeyu, Tongshi, and Xitang. Even during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, they still lived a primitive life, wearing their hair in braids and their robes fastened on the left, and migrating with their livestock.

As is well known, Emperor Wu of Han was ambitious and eager for conquest. After defeating the Xiongnu in the north, he felt it was not enough and began to wage war in all directions. In just a few years, he conquered more than a hundred countries, including Dongyue, Nanyue, Korea, Xiqiang, and the Southwestern Yi, expanding the territory by thirty commanderies and laying the foundation for the basic map of China in later generations. The Southwestern Yi refers to the Yi people countries mentioned in the south.

However, after annexing the southwestern barbarians, the rule of the Han dynasties over the southern regions was never stable. From Emperor Cheng and Emperor Ping of the Former Han to Emperor An and Emperor Ling of the Later Han, large-scale rebellions broke out, affecting several prefectures. The state invested a great deal of money to quell these rebellions, but the problem could not be eradicated. Even when Emperor Zhaolie (Liu Bei) entered Shu, the situation remained the same.

After Emperor Zhaolie (Liu Bei) passed away, the rebellion reached its peak, eventually engulfing the entire southern region. South of Jianwei, almost all of the territory was lost, leading to Zhuge Liang's famous southern expedition. Zhuge Liang led three armies south, winning battle after battle. To win over the hearts of the people, he captured and released the rebel leader Meng Huo seven times. The various Yi tribes regarded him as a god, invincible to mortals, and from then on, they submitted to him. This story spread to the states of Wei and Wu, becoming a celebrated tale.

Even so, during the Shu Han's rule over Nanzhong, rebellions of varying sizes still occurred frequently. After the Sima clan took over, they too were troubled by this issue, establishing and abolishing Ningzhou twice, unsure whether to increase investment in Nanzhong. Now, another major rebellion has erupted, affecting the entire prefecture and remaining unresolved for several years.

Moreover, even before the establishment of the state, Liu Xian had already sent scouts to Ningzhou to inquire about the situation, but the result was a complete mess.

After Li Yi dispatched 5,000 troops to Bashu, the rebels within Ningzhou became even more rampant. Yi people and local powerful clans each occupied a region, waiting for an opportunity to expand their territories and plundering Han people everywhere. However, it was difficult to say who the real rebel leader was. According to Li Xiu's prior statement, only half of Jianning County was currently under the control of Li Yi, the governor of Ningzhou, which shows how dire the situation was.

Therefore, the officials in the country were not very interested in Ningzhou. Who knew if they could completely quell the rebellion in the south after this year's expedition? And how long would it take? No one had been able to accomplish this in centuries, and no one had the confidence to do so. Not to mention, the south was rife with miasma; Liu Xian himself had fallen ill in Brazil, so what would happen in the south? Everyone had just had a six-month period of rest and recuperation, and many soldiers had just started families and were ready to enjoy a peaceful life, so they had no intention of taking any risks.

At the court assembly, Grand Herald Yan Zuan openly opposed the southern expedition, listing various disadvantages of it:
First, the country is currently in dire need of reconstruction, and the military needs rest and recuperation, leading to a strong sense of war-weariness.

Second, because Liu Xian had promised to halve the land rent in advance, the national treasury was insufficient for the next two years, making it difficult to mobilize a large number of troops.
Third, the situation in Ningzhou is unclear and the people's hearts are unsettled, making it difficult to achieve a quick victory;

Fourth, even if the rebellion is quelled and Ningzhou is recovered, it may be difficult to mobilize enough people to restore rule within the country.

Fifth, weighing the pros and cons, even if the rule over Ningzhou is stabilized, Ningzhou's geographical location is not important, and it is mostly mountainous with little output. Overall, the southern expedition would be more of a loss than a gain.
These reasons convinced most of the officials in the court, and many seconded the motion. Even Liu Shen and Li Ju found it very reasonable. At least for the time being, there was no need for a southern expedition, and the matter should be postponed until next autumn at the earliest.

Unlike before, this was the first time Liu Xian had faced so much opposition. Previously, he had made decisions in seclusion, first forming his own ideas and then informing the government officials, who would then execute them. But now that he had established a state and assumed power, this approach was no longer feasible. At least on major policies, he had to bring them to court for the officials to review. Given the diverse opinions of the people, this significantly reduced the efficiency of his governance.

To overcome this problem, emperors typically employ imperial tactics, cultivating a group of officials who unconditionally flatter and fawn upon them to reduce resistance to their governance. However, Liu Xian was unwilling to do so. Emperors, already in high positions of power, are easily flattered, and if surrounded by sycophants, they are highly susceptible to being blinded by their own biases and manipulated.

Therefore, Liu Xian still wanted to cultivate a more relaxed public opinion environment. As long as it didn't involve matters of principle such as superstition or destiny, listening to more dissenting voices wasn't a bad thing. If one was truly right, refuting the other side head-on wasn't actually difficult. Moreover, Liu Xian himself quite enjoyed the feeling of persuading others.

This time, however, Liu Xian returned the power to refute to Li Xiu.

When the second court assembly convened, the officials were astonished to find a woman present in the hall. Her face was veiled, and she appeared to be under twenty years old. She wore a long, indigo-blue robe, and possessed a tall, curvaceous figure with long, vibrant legs—clearly not from an ordinary family. A combination of pride, nobility, and intellect gave her a contradictory, wild beauty. Although her features were obscured, everyone couldn't help but guess that she must be a truly unique beauty.

Within the country, Li Xiu's existence was no secret. However, given the distinction between men and women, most officials rarely had the opportunity to see her. Her sudden appearance in the court caused some discomfort, as there was no precedent for this; besides maids, there was no other woman present in the court.

Liu Xian patiently introduced her, saying, "Gentlemen, please don't underestimate her. Although Miss Li is young, she is intelligent and eager to learn. Many of you here don't read books and are less knowledgeable than her!"

Then Liu Xian asked Yan Zuan to step forward and said with a smile, "Lord Yan, this Miss Li says she will refute your previous statement about the five disadvantages of the southern expedition one by one. Please be patient and listen to her."

Allowing a woman to participate in court affairs was undoubtedly an unprecedented innovation, and many officials felt somewhat uncomfortable. However, they couldn't really criticize her, since Li Xiu was Li Yi's daughter, and as the person who sought help, she certainly had the right to defend herself.

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Li Xiu, eager to hear her insights.

Faced with these gazes, Li Xiu maintained a calm demeanor on the surface, but inwardly she couldn't help feeling nervous. She had been on the battlefield, but this was the first time she had become the focus of attention among such a group of superiors in such a serious setting. It was understandable that she lacked confidence, but when she subconsciously turned to look at Liu Xian, she saw him smiling and nodding slightly, as if encouraging her. A surge of warmth immediately welled up inside her, dispelling her panic and unease.

She calmed herself, first bowing respectfully to Yan Zuan, then speaking in a clear, melodious voice, "I have already heard of Lord Yan's opposition to the southern expedition. Lord Yan is an elder, and his words have their merits, but seeing is believing. Lord Yan has never been to Ningzhou, and perhaps his knowledge is incomplete. Although I am not talented, I grew up in Ningzhou, and therefore I speak presumptuously on political matters, wishing to discuss them with you gentlemen." Before coming, Li Xiu had already decided to refute Yan Zuan's five reasons one by one. Now, she was truly unreserved, starting with the perspective of public opinion:

"Lord Yan said that after the great chaos has subsided, the people yearn for peace and should therefore cease hostilities, which is certainly true. However, I believe that Your Highness, if you wish to rule the world, you cannot distinguish between internal and external affairs. Both Sichuan and the Southern Regions are former territories of the Han Dynasty, and the north and south are interdependent and inseparable. In recent years, Sichuan has been in great turmoil, and countless people have fled south to Ningzhou. They are all citizens of our country, their hearts breaking, their cries echoing through the streets. Lord Yan, do you mean that only the hearts of the people of Sichuan count as the hearts of the people, while the hearts of the people of the Southern Regions are not?"

Having spoken of the people's will, she then addressed the issue of troop deployment: "The south is currently in great turmoil, with various barbarian tribes seizing territory. The situation appears chaotic and difficult to manage, but none of these tribes are truly capable of winning over the people; they are merely allies. There are also many Han Chinese in various prefectures who yearn for a wise ruler. The south is in its current state because my father is ill and unable to tour the prefectures. Therefore, Your Highness need not launch a major offensive. Simply send 10,000 men south to make an example of one to deter others, employing both kindness and force, and that will be enough to stabilize the situation."

Then, regarding the approximate time required for the southern expedition, Li Xiu judged: "It is winter now, and the twelfth month is the most suitable season to head south to the southern region. I am not capable, but I am willing to be the army's guide, heading south from Yuexi, crossing the Lu River to Zhuti, and then south to Jianning. It will take three months to travel, three months to fight, and three months to recuperate. Nine months will be sufficient."

As for how to govern Ningzhou, Li Xiu believed that everyone was exaggerating the difficulty. She said, "Although the South has always been known as a barbarian land, it has been incorporated into the Chinese states for more than three hundred years. There are many large Han families there, as well as the old Wudang tribes, the Four Clans and Five Sons. Now there are also refugees from the north, many of whom are talented. If Your Highness can make good use of them and promote them, why worry about not being able to maintain peace for a long time?"

Next, and this was the point everyone was most concerned about, concerned the issue of Ningzhou's poverty. Li Xiu refuted this forcefully:

"Ningzhou spans ten thousand li from east to west, with a million Yi people and hundreds of thousands of Han people. Although it is not as fertile as Sichuan and Chongqing, which are famous for their rice, it can still be described as a vast and prosperous land. Its products include Qiongzhi cloth, tung cloth, konjac sauce, yaks, Yunnan horses, lychees, and peacocks. The mountains also contain jade, gold, silver, copper, iron, glass, and salt wells. The rivers contain pearls, shellfish, gold dust, and crystal."

“After Emperor Shizong, those who served as officials in the south all became wealthy for ten generations. That is why Emperor Ming alone appreciated Zheng Chun’s integrity, because he did not steal anything even when he was in Baoshan. When Prime Minister Zhuge Liang led the southern expedition, he also clearly stated in his “Memorial on the Expedition” that “the south has been pacified and the army is well-equipped. We should lead the three armies to pacify the Central Plains in the north.” It can be seen that the gains from the southern expedition actually outweighed the losses from the northern expedition. Why does Lord Yan say that the gains did not outweigh the losses? I think it is not advisable.”

Having refuted all of Yan Zuan's arguments, Li Xiu should have ended the conversation there. However, overcome with emotion, and thinking of her ailing father and the suffering people of the prefecture, she said sadly, "Gentlemen, I have failed the trust of the elders and the hopes of the seven prefectures. I often weep when I think of this. The people of Ningzhou yearn for a wise ruler with burning despair. If Your Highness does not go, they will feel abandoned! If this continues, they will weep blood and grieve, never to turn to Han again!"

Li Xiu finally finished her sermon, then wept softly, wiping away her tears repeatedly, moving everyone present. At this point, when Liu Xian brought up the southern expedition again, naturally no one objected. At the subsequent court assembly, Liu Xian set a date for the expedition. Supplies and provisions were already nearly complete; the next step was mainly troop mustering. Liu Xian planned to spend half a month mustering and preparing the army, officially launching the expedition on the day of Xinmao in the eleventh month.

After the court assembly ended, Liu Xian invited Li Ju, Liu Kun, Li Xiu, and others to stay and dine together in the Wudan Palace.

After becoming emperor, Liu Xian's life changed in every aspect. Not only in court affairs, but also in the inner palace, many changes occurred. To serve his family, more than forty palace maids were added to the palace. To ensure security, there were also hundreds of palace guards, plus medical staff, cooks, Taoist priests, grooms, historians, and other personnel. All in all, there are now nearly two hundred people in the Wudan Palace.

Although such treatment wasn't extravagant for a monarch, Liu Xian still felt it was somewhat wasteful and too cumbersome. In his daily life, he preferred to be as simple and free as possible. Therefore, when dining, he instructed the kitchen to prepare simple fish feasts so that his family could gather together to eat, maintaining family traditions and strengthening bonds.

While dining, Liu Xian would occasionally host banquets for some court officials to show his respect and favor. For elders like Li Ju and Liu Kun, he treated them like family, without needing to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

After they entered the palace with Li Xiu, Liu Xian's three wives, two sons, and one daughter were all there. But Liu Xian did not care about the internal and external defenses, so he waved for the two to sit closer and then instructed them: "This southern expedition requires winning over the hearts of the various barbarian peoples, so I will go personally. After my southern expedition, the affairs of the court will mainly depend on the two of you to maintain them."

While Liu Xian was explaining state affairs, Li Xiu was also talking with A Luo, Lü Zhu, and A Die. They had all heard that Li Xiu had refuted Yan Zuan in court, and as women, they all sympathized with him and admired him greatly, so they gathered together to talk and relieve their boredom.

Yang Hui'ai and Li Xiu were the same age. She was actually not interested in politics; her curiosity came and went quickly. After talking for a while, she heard Liu Cheng crying loudly. She quickly turned around, took her son back from the palace maid, and hummed a lullaby to soothe the child.

Shang Rou, however, was quite moved and spoke more with Li Xiu. As a descendant of the Cao family, she had always strictly adhered to the ancestral precept established by Cao Pi that women should not interfere in politics, focusing solely on managing her family's affairs and never meddling in Liu Xian's political matters. But upon reflection, she still felt some regret. Therefore, she praised Li Xiu, saying, "Shuniang is a remarkable woman; I am far superior to her."

Green Pearl listened attentively, occasionally interjecting a few words. She sighed, "Shuniang's greatest skill is her ability to heal and save lives." Green Pearl had always resented Liu Xian for concealing his serious illness; they only learned the details after moving to Chengdu. Green Pearl had initially harbored some resentment towards Liu Xian, but after this incident, she felt only endless fear, and all her grievances vanished.

Li Xiu was very pleased to receive praise from both Shang Rou and Lü Zhu. However, at the end of the conversation, Yang Hui'ai suddenly asked, "Shuniang is so good, when are you going to enter the palace?"

Upon hearing this, the other women covered their lips and chuckled. Li Xiu was also quite embarrassed, blushing and lowering her head, unsure of what to say. Compared to other women, Li Xiu was certainly poised and graceful, but she couldn't match A Die's boldness and straightforwardness. In truth, having reached this point, Liu Xian's admiration and affection for Li Xiu was undisguised, and marriage was already a fait accompli. However, a formal marriage would have to wait until the southern campaign against Ningzhou, at least until Li Yi's opinion was obtained.

Liu Xian, who was standing nearby, overheard this as well. He laughed heartily, masking Li Xiu's embarrassment, and turned to Li Ju and the others, raising his cup to drink. He then said with a smile, "It's not unreasonable for me to lead a large army south, venturing far and wide to seek marriage alliances with the people of the South!" (End of Chapter)