Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 509 is the key point.

Liaodong City.

"Your Majesty, I have returned!"

Zu Ting returned from Goguryeo with a letter from the state, and news also came from the front lines that all the cities in Liaodong had surrendered.

With this, Liaodong was pacified.

Li Shuang looked at Zu Ting and nodded.

"Thank you for your help, Xiaozheng."

Just as Zu Ting was about to say something, Hou Jing's voice came from outside.

"Your Majesty, I have returned!"

Hou Jingxing rushed into the house and saw Zu Ting there as well. He quickened his pace and walked to Li Shuang's side.

"how?"

"Your Majesty, I have already delivered the imperial edict conferring the title of Grand Duke of the South upon him."

Zu Ting was somewhat puzzled upon hearing this.

Before Zu Ting could even ask, Hou Jing had already spoken.

"After receiving the imperial edict conferring upon him the title of Duke of Xuantu, he has already agreed to serve the king."

Li Shuang listened but didn't take it seriously.

“Even though he is from the Goguryeo royal family, his foundation is shallow. After we leave, I’m afraid we won’t be able to compete with Gao Baoyan.”

Hou Jing nodded and said:

"What about that?"

"Find him some helpers."

After Li Shuang finished speaking, Zu Ting understood his meaning and looked somewhat embarrassed:
"Your Majesty, wouldn't this contradict what we promised Gao Baoyan?"

Before Li Shuang could speak, Hou Jing said:

“How can we disobey? It was the Emperor of Great Wei who signed the alliance with Gao Baoyan, the Emperor of Great Liang who granted the title of Duke of Xuantu, and the Emperor of Great Liang who conferred the title of Lord of Yalu City.”

Zu Ting raised an eyebrow, as if to say, "Isn't Goguryeo already chaotic enough?"
"But what if they don't accept the title?"

Li Shuang smiled and said:
"That's their own business."

Zu Ting understood.

As long as Li Shuang remains in Liaodong, Gao Baoyan's large army around Pyongyang will not dare to move.

By then, once the newly appointed Duke Xuantu has settled the affairs of the surrounding city lords who are still loyal to Pyongyang, it will be difficult for Gao Baoyan to head north again.

After all, the Goguryeo people built this city themselves, and they know whether it's easy or difficult to conquer.

If this southern region can hold out for two or three years, then the land in Liaodong will be stable.

The only concern is whether the Duke of Xuantu can appease the city lords of Yalu before Li Shuang withdraws his troops.

As Zu Ting pondered, Gao Huan walked in from outside.

Compared to the last time Zu Ting saw this Duke of Wei, he had lost a lot of weight.

In order to consolidate his control over Liaodong, Li Shuang implemented a policy of establishing feudal lords.

Whether it was Huai Shuo or Wu Chuan, anyone who wanted to stay in Liaodong was granted a three-rank title and given land and people.

It was not an honorary title, but a real fiefdom.

This resulted in the fact that, apart from Liaodong City and several surrounding strategically important cities being designated as prefectures and counties, the rest of the land was sealed off.

This approach has proven very effective, allowing for the stabilization of land gains in a short period. However, in the long run, it presents numerous hidden risks.

In the present situation, although the most fertile agricultural area in Liaodong is under control and those who have been enfeoffed can jointly protect Liaodong City, who knows what will happen in twenty or thirty years?
During the Rebellion of the Seven States, even those within the same country could turn against each other. How much more so Liaodong, which was not as vast as Guanzhong, and could not withstand forces from all sides.

However, despite its many flaws, it cannot overshadow one advantage.

What were the advantages of the feudal system over the prefecture-county system?

It costs nothing!
After all, the Goguryeo people had been ruling Liaodong for over a century, and Li Shuang couldn't possibly relocate hundreds of thousands of Han Chinese to Liaodong in a short period. If he didn't do so, he would have to invest heavily in military spending in Liaodong to suppress any potential rebellions.

"He Liuhun, are you unhappy that I have appointed Sima Ziru?"

Gao Huan didn't expect Li Shuang to ask that question directly.

Hou Jing and Zu Ting, who were present, were also taken aback. Hou Jing looked at Gao Huan with some concern, while Zu Ting was secretly gloating.

This question is not easy to answer.

Gao Huan paused for a moment, then answered as quickly as possible.

"I am indeed displeased!"

Hou Jing and Zu Ting's expressions changed, but Li Shuang asked:
"Oh?"

"When I was in Ye City with Sima Ziru and others, we spent our days and nights together and worked together for a long time. Now that we are parting, I don't know when we will meet again. I am reluctant to part with you, but I also know that Liaodong has been occupied by the Goguryeo people for more than a hundred years. It is difficult to stabilize the region quickly without this strategy. Therefore, I am unhappy, but I also understand Your Majesty's deep intentions."

Zu Ting was startled by Gao Huan's words and couldn't help but turn around to look at Hou Jing beside him.

Gao Huan is far more skilled than Hou Jing.

Hou Jing felt Zu Ting's gaze and asked in an unfriendly tone:
"See what I do?"

"I simply find the loyalty and righteousness of the people of Huai Shuo truly admirable."

Hou Jing snorted.

"You say it!"

Li Shuang ignored Hou Jing and Zu Ting, looked at Gao Huan, nodded, and said:
"I am aware of He Liuhun's intentions. Since the campaign against Liaodong, He Liuhun has rendered great service. I hereby promote you to the rank of Pillar of State and grant you the title of Duke of Lai!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Huan's heart tightened, and he felt somewhat excited. He cupped his hands and said:
"Your Majesty, I thank you greatly!"

After Li Shuang finished speaking, Hou Jing's attitude changed.

Although he felt bad seeing his brother suffer, he felt even worse seeing his brother make progress.

……

"Black Otter, how is it?"

The people of Wuchuan looked at Yuwentai, who was walking with the imperial edict, and their words were filled with anxiety.

"Your Majesty has established three towns in Liaoxi and three prefectures in Liaodong, all of which are under the jurisdiction of the Northeast Circuit. At the same time, you have promoted me to Pillar of State and granted me the title of Duke of Yan."

Upon hearing this, the people of Wuchuan were overjoyed and cheered.

"No need for that. Generals Yang Kan, Li Bi, and Gao Ang have all been appointed as Pillars of State for their meritorious service in guarding the border."

"Even the three generals Yang Kan, Li Bi, and Gao Ang, who have followed the king for many years, did not become pillars of the state earlier than Hei Ta, which is enough to show the king's trust in us."

Yuwen Tai was stunned, looking at the joyful faces of his brothers, and felt somewhat dazed.

It's unclear when it started, but his men have become someone who rejoices at a reward from the King of Qin and fears a reprimand at the same time.

Yuwen Tai couldn't figure it out; it seemed to have gradually become like this. Even he himself felt the same way when he received this royal instruction.

"However, Black Otter, we must warn you that Sima Ziru, Sun Teng, and other Huai Shuo people are also in our Northeast Province, and they each have their own territory and troops. They are not easy to manage!"

Just then, a fast horseman arrived with news.

"General..."

"What General? He's called Pillar of State."

Yuwentai's underlings felt indignant on his behalf, but Yuwentai simply waved his hand and said:
"Ignore it. What is it?"

A report has come from Luoyang that Ganquan Palace has been attacked by villains.

Yuwen Tai's expression changed drastically, and he asked:

"How is Lord Liang?"

"The Liang ruler is safe, but General Xiao Bing, the guard of Ganquan Palace, died protecting the Liang ruler. The people of Luoyang are in a state of panic and chaos has already broken out. The princes of Liang are also taking advantage of this incident to provoke trouble on the border, wanting to welcome back the Liang ruler."

……

(End of this chapter)