Jinting Han people

For a considerable period of time, Liu Xian had not fully made up his mind about establishing a vassal state in Yangzhou.

While Lu Zhi's suggestion was indeed brilliant from a strategic perspective, the Han army, having expanded rapidly from a mere southwestern corner to the entire Jiangnan region within two years, had a rather unstable foundation. Thoroughly assimilating and integrating them would inevitably require considerable time and effort. Furthermore, the aristocratic power in the Jiangnan region, especially in the Yangzhou and Wu areas, was immense. The Wu people had not only built a complete internal network in military and political affairs but also possessed clear and deeply ingrained political views. Any reforms or changes would likely provoke a strong reaction from them.

Therefore, in order to divide the various factions and steadily advance the reform, it was undoubtedly a brilliant move to first stabilize the Wu region by establishing vassal states.

Given the current situation, the imperial court doesn't even fully control the nearby Jing and Xiang regions, let alone the distant Wu region south of the Yangtze River. If the Wu people wanted to rebel, it would be difficult to mount an effective counterattack. Therefore, it would be better to simply allow them autonomy, a long-held wish of the Wu people for decades. If this is satisfied, allowing them to maintain basic order, providing some symbolic support, and most importantly, preventing them from disrupting the imperial court's new policies or siding with Qi and Han, that would be the most advantageous situation for the Southern Han.

This is not without precedent in history; the most typical example is the Duke of Zhou's enfeoffment of officials.

Although King Wu of Zhou defeated King Zhou of Shang and became the ruler of the land, he died the following year before he could consolidate his rule. Taking advantage of King Wu's death, King Zhou's son, Wu Geng, exploited the internal discord among the Zhou royal family and successfully instigated the Three Guards Army in the east, launching the Rebellion of the Three Guards, which nearly overthrew the Zhou Dynasty. Duke Dan of Zhou then joined forces with Duke Shao, leading a large army on a second expedition to the east, killing Wu Geng and suppressing the Three Guards, thus stabilizing the Zhou Dynasty's rule in the east.

Even so, the Yin people remained powerful. In order to further suppress the Yin people without forcing them to rise up again, the Duke of Zhou, while enfeoffing meritorious officials in the east, also enfeoffed Wei Zi, a member of the Yin royal family, as the Duke of Song, allowing them to continue the traditions of the Yin Shang and act as they pleased. From then on, the overall situation was stabilized, which led to the later saying, "The Duke of Zhou spits out his food to welcome guests, and the world's hearts turn to him."

Based on this, Lu Zhi suggested that Liu Xian simply establish a vassal state in the Three Wu regions and then enfeoff the Sima clan there. This would solve another problem: how to treat the Jin imperial relatives.

It should be noted that although the Jin dynasty had fallen, the influence of the Sima imperial family remained enormous. The reason for this was that, during the four generations from Sima Yi to Sima Zhong, the Sima family, as the imperial family, had formed a vast network of intermarriages with numerous aristocratic families, which could not be ignored.

Not to mention the well-known noble families such as the Jia family of Pingyang, the Pei family of Wenxi, and the Wang family of Langya, even just taking the current court of the Southern Han Dynasty as an example, a considerable number of high-ranking officials are related to the Sima family by marriage.

For example, Liu Kun, the governor of Yizhou, was originally a relative of Sima Lun, the Prince of Zhao; Wang Dun, the governor of Jiangzhou who surrendered to Liu Xian last year, was a well-known imperial son-in-law of the Jin court; He Pan, the Grand Commandant, was the brother-in-law of Sima Yue, the Prince of Donghai; even Lu Zhi, the minister Liu Xian trusted most at the moment, had a son, Lu Chen, who was engaged to Princess Xingyang, but the marriage could not be completed because the princess died young.

Not to mention, Liu Xian himself was also considered a relative of the Jin dynasty. He not only had Princess Yingchuan, Sima Xiuhua, as his sworn sister, but his daughter, Princess Jiangxia, Liu Lingyou, was also engaged to Sima Xian, the son of Sima Yi, the Prince of Changsha, though the engagement was not yet finalized.

Under such circumstances, if the Jin imperial family were left unattended, and other aristocratic families harbored resentment towards the new policies, they might inevitably support the Sima clan again to launch a rebellion. Therefore, by establishing a vassal state and settling the Sima clan in the Wu region, far from Jingzhou, Liu Xian could appear benevolent, have the people of Wu as a check on them, and also largely eliminate the possibility of other people rebelling. It was truly a win-win situation.

Therefore, when Liu Xian first heard Lu Zhi's suggestion, he felt enlightened and overjoyed, believing that this strategy was indispensable. However, there is no perfect strategy in the world, and every strategy has its advantages and disadvantages. Afterwards, when Liu Xian reviewed the strategy, he found that there were at least three aspects that needed to be considered.

First, this involves defining the nature of the Jin dynasty. As a dynasty that usurped power from the Wei and ascended to the throne by overthrowing the Han, Liu Xian, as a direct descendant of the Han imperial family, should rightfully recognize the Jin dynasty as a legitimate one. However, if he were to establish vassal states for the Sima clan, it would inevitably evoke comparisons to the "Two Kings and Three Regents," in other words, it would mean Liu Xian had acknowledged the Jin dynasty as the legitimate dynasty. This would undoubtedly become an excuse for attacks from his political enemies.

Of course, this matter is neither a major nor a minor one. Ordinary people simply don't understand orthodox arguments, and they're unlikely to be of much use on the battlefield, but if recorded in history books, they'll inevitably be criticized. What logic is there in descendants continuing the dynasty for the sake of their own enemies? Keep in mind, Liu Xian didn't even formally enfeoff his own relatives.

Secondly, this is a temporary measure. Although a vassal state has been established, Liu Xian will face a problem after the new policies in other regions are completed: should this vassal state be maintained? If he chooses to maintain it, and the new policies are implemented in all other regions except Wu, would that be unfair to the local people? But if he does not maintain it, and then abolishes it after a period of time, it would inevitably be suspected of going back on his word and would also affect Liu Xian's credibility.

Third, there are many wise men among the Wu people. With the talents of Zhou Qi, Gu Rong, and others, they might not be unaware of the advantages and disadvantages involved. If they guessed his thoughts, wouldn't they think he was hypocritical and simply go with the flow, taking the opportunity to establish themselves independently? Or would they simply switch sides to Qi and Han? Based on the intelligence gathered so far regarding the north, Liu Bogen is capable of offering that price, which is the outcome Liu Xian least wants to see.

In conclusion, the matter of establishing a vassal state involves many complexities, forcing Liu Xian to repeatedly consider and weigh the pros and cons, which has led to the delay until now.

September was fast approaching, and the reforms had officially begun; the matter could no longer be delayed. After being advised by Zhou Yi, he realized that instead of pondering alone in the palace, it would be better to have an open and honest discussion with Zhou Qi, Gu Rong, and others. At least Zhou Qi was proud and wouldn't bother hiding his opinions, and Gu Rong was a former subordinate with whom he had some personal ties. Furthermore, both were leaders of the Wu region's scholars; their opinions were sufficient to demonstrate the Wu people's attitude towards this policy.

So one afternoon in late August, after the morning court session, Liu Xian summoned Zhou Qi and Gu Rong to the palace, and also ordered Lu Yun from the Ministry of Personnel to come and accompany him, and together they discussed the matter of establishing vassal states.

After the three were seated, Liu Xian first ordered a palace maid to pour tea for them. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he didn't keep them in suspense and directly stated his thoughts: "I plan to establish a fiefdom for the Jin dynasty in Jiangzuo to appease them. What are your thoughts?"

Upon hearing this, the three of them were stunned. After all, it was common knowledge that Liu Xian, as the emperor, favored prefectures and counties over feudalism. The fact that he uttered the words "conferment" made Lu, Zhou, and Gu feel a sense of absurdity. They looked at each other and heard Liu Xian ask again before they realized that the emperor was not joking.

Gu Rong reacted the fastest, realizing first Liu Xian's motives, but remained outwardly calm. He wasn't sure if Liu Xian truly intended to do this, or if it was a test of the Wu people, so he countered, "Does Your Majesty distrust the Sima clan? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to send them to the south?"

Liu Xian understood Gu Rong's concerns, so he smiled and said, "It would be a lie to say that I am completely at ease, but if I have any concerns, they are only minor. After all, the Sima family has lost all popular support. The main reason I summoned you here this time is because I have other considerations."

He paused for a moment, then pointed at Zhou Qi beside him and said, "Hasn't Xuan Pei been spreading rumors lately that the five-tiered enfeoffment system is better than the prefecture-county system? My latest policy is also too complicated, unlike the simple and straightforward Zhou policy, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to succeed. We've talked about it several times, but he can't convince me, and I can't convince him either."

"The first sentence of the Tao Te Ching is, 'The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.' Some things cannot be clearly explained in words; only after doing them can one distinguish their true merits and demerits. Therefore, I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to enfeoff the Jin dynasty and try out the Zhou system in the Wu region, so that the world can see the effectiveness of the Zhou system."

“But this is no small matter. If it is implemented in Yangzhou, it will definitely have a huge impact. And since you are locals, I would like to know your opinions.”

Liu Xian's words were quite frank and open. Gu Rong, hearing this, also felt that the emperor was very sincere, so he no longer concealed his thoughts and stated his opinion directly: "Your Majesty, I oppose this matter."

"Oh? Why does Yanxian object?"

Gu Rong earnestly said, “The world is not yet unified, and this is precisely the time for the four classes of people to unite sincerely and overcome difficulties together. If Your Majesty treats the Wu region differently and establishes vassal states, it will inevitably cause controversy, making people think that Your Majesty does not regard the people of Wu as your subjects or the scholars of Wu as your servants. Is this a good thing? If this continues, the country will surely be in danger of internal strife.” Gu Rong’s thoughts coincided with Liu Xian’s concerns. Liu Xian nodded, then turned to Zhou Qi and said, “Xuan Pei, this has always been your opinion. What do you think?”

Although Zhou Qi usually liked to be blunt and outspoken, he was not frivolous on such an important matter. Instead, he pondered for a moment before asking, "Is Your Majesty's investiture a long-term plan or a temporary measure?"

Liu Xian asked, "What about a long-term plan? What about a short-term plan?"

Zhou Qi raised his head, looked directly at Liu Xian, and slowly said, "Your Majesty, Zhou Zheng's words can be summed up in four words: to pacify the people and keep them calm, and to avoid trouble. If it is a temporary measure, it can be established this year and abolished in a few years, which would violate Zhou Zheng's main purpose and only increase local unrest. If it is a long-term measure, then it can be tried. Your Majesty must agree to my request that if this is to be carried out, the vassal states must not be abolished for at least twenty years."

"Then how can we see the results?"

Zhou Qi smiled and said, "Your Majesty's intention is simply to prevent chaos in Jiangzuo, isn't it? If Your Majesty truly establishes a vassal state, I dare to assure the court that if Your Majesty entrusts me with this matter, there will be absolutely no chaos in Jiangzuo within twenty years, so Your Majesty need not worry. If the court goes to war, Jiangzuo will also provide its full support."

"What do you think of Yanxian's concerns just now?"

Zhou Qi glanced at Gu Rong and said, "This is not difficult. At worst, His Majesty can issue another decree to express his intentions. After the establishment of the vassal states, if there are people in Jiangzuo who are willing to support the court's new policies, they can leave the vassal states on their own. If there are people in the court who are willing to support Zhou's policies, they can also go to Jiangzuo. In this way, wouldn't everyone be treated equally?"

Upon hearing his friend's words, Gu Rong couldn't help but chuckle and whispered, "It's not that simple."

Zhou Qi, on the contrary, replied calmly, "To stabilize people's hearts, the simpler the better."

After the two finished speaking, Liu Xian turned to Lu Yun and asked, "What does Shilong think?"

Lu Yun remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Your Majesty is quite right. Such an important matter cannot be judged by words alone. As for me, I am of limited wisdom and limited ability, and I dare not offer any advice. But whatever decision Your Majesty makes, I will carry it out to the best of my ability without hesitation."

"Hmm." Upon hearing this answer, Liu Xian also began to ponder. Today, he had summoned three people to discuss the matter of establishing a vassal state in the Wu region. One person opposed it, one person agreed, and one person remained silent. This situation inevitably made him think deeply.

However, a careful analysis of the three men's opinions reveals that Gu Rong was not opposed to establishing vassal states in the first place; he was simply weighing the pros and cons and worried that the court's refusal to accept the Wu people would lead to future conflict, hence his opposition. Lu Yun, while remaining silent, expressed his support for Liu Xian's decision in this crucial situation, which was essentially a tacit endorsement, given Liu Xian's proposed new policy. Zhou Qi's stance was equally clear. From this perspective, all three men actually favored establishing vassal states in Jiangzuo, differing only in their concerns.

Liu Xian made up his mind from then on, and said to Zhou Qi, "In that case, I will make a gentleman's agreement with Xuan Pei."

"A gentleman's agreement?"

Liu Xian slowly rose, walked to the north wall of the palace, and took a long sword from a wooden shelf. The scabbard was inlaid with gold and jade, making it quite magnificent. Then, holding the sword in one hand, Liu Xian turned and walked to Zhou Qi, holding it horizontally in front of him, and slowly said:

“I have heard that Xuanpei is the number one sword fanatic in Jiangzuo, and loves swords as much as his own life. This sword is a precious sword forged by Emperor Ling of Han at a cost of a thousand gold pieces. There are only three of them in the world. Although Emperor Ling was a foolish ruler, his sword is indeed a rare treasure. Today, I will give it to Xuanpei.”

"I take this sword as my witness. If, within ten years, Xuanpei is able to govern the Zhou dynasty well, allowing the people of the Three Wu regions to live in peace and prosperity, and for everyone to find their place, then I promise you that I will retain the vassal state and never abolish it."

"In other words, if Xuanpei cannot do it..."

Before Liu Xian could finish speaking, Zhou Qi had already taken the Zhongxing Sword. He solemnly promised, "If I cannot do it, I am willing to kill all the traitors for Your Majesty, and then use this sword to commit suicide and apologize to the world!" His words were extremely resolute.

"Hey, why go to such lengths?" Liu Xian laughed. "I just hope that when I reform the system in Yangzhou, Xuan Pei can lend me a hand."

Having said that, Gu Rong no longer objected, but instead proposed, "In that case, I have one more request."

"Please speak, Yanxian."

"I have a younger sister named Miaoyu, who was once married to Chen Min's younger brother, Chen Bin. After Chen Min's defeat and death, she has been living alone at home with no one to rely on. I beg Your Majesty to take her into the palace and provide her with some shelter."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian sighed and said, "Since it is Yanxian's request, how could I dare to refuse?"

Following this discussion, the policy of establishing vassal states was finalized. In early September, Liu Xian formally issued an edict stating that although the Sima family had usurped the Mandate of Heaven and seized power, thus being a successor dynasty, they had ultimately unified the empire for over twenty years, rendered great service to the people, and treated the current emperor leniently, without incurring any debt. Therefore, the emperor, remembering past favors, established the Jin'an Kingdom, comprising five commanderies: Danyang, Piling, Wuxing, Wu Commandery, and Kuaiji, with its capital at Qiantang. He also appointed the former Prince of Yuzhang of Jin, Sima Chi, as the Prince of Jin'an, leading several hundred members of the Jin imperial family to settle within the country.

Then the emperor issued an edict appointing Zhou Qi, a Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate, as the Chancellor of the State of Jin'an, in charge of all affairs of the state, including the appointment of officials, reforms to the administration, and, in case of emergency, the authority to act first and report later. (End of Chapter)