Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 550: Power over the world
While the north was busy with the change of dynasties, the war among the Xiao clan princes in the south had also reached a fever pitch.

After Dugu Xin and Duan Shao captured Xiangfan, the local Southern Liang soldiers and civilians in Xiangyang did not trust these two generals from the north, and there was mutual suspicion between them.

After Li Shuang appointed Xiao Cha to oversee Xiangyang, Xiao Cha, who was still training troops for Xiao Yu in Anlu, had no more concerns and went to Xiangyang.

The situation in Jingzhou and Xiangyang had already turned in one direction. Xiao Yu and Xiao Cha had occupied the two important towns of Xiangyang and Jiangxia, and the next step was to encircle Jiangling.

Despite being in a perilous situation, Xiao Yi did not sit idly by and wait for his death. On the one hand, he summoned Wang Sengbian to launch a proactive attack on Jiangxia, and on the other hand, he secretly lured the Du family, who were in charge of the Jiangxia navy, to surrender.

Xiao Yu was completely unaware of Xiao Yi's two-pronged plan. When he learned that the navy at the front had defected and that Wang Sengbian was approaching Xiakou, he fled to Changsha in a panic with only his own troops.

What Xiao Yu didn't know was that the general he left behind in Changsha had accepted a large bribe from Xiao Yi and, seeing that the battle in Jiangxia had ended, chose to betray him. Caught off guard, Xiao Yu was captured by the traitorous general, imprisoned, and then beheaded. His head was sent to Jiangling, where Xiao Yi buried it.

After this battle, Xiao Yi became the largest landlord in Jingxiang. He had basically controlled most of the cities except for Xiangyang and Anlu, and his influence extended to Lingnan.

In Jiangdong, the imperial guards of Jiankang captured Jiujiang and marched south to besiege Nanchang.

Trapped in Nanchang, Xiao Xu chose to back down and planned to use brotherly affection to persuade Xiao Gang.

Xiao Tong, Xiao Gang, and Xiao Xu were born of the same mother. Xiao Xu's admission of weakness at a crucial moment proved effective, as Xiao Gang chose to forgive him. Perhaps this was also due to the changing situation in Jingzhou, which forced Xiao Gang to grant the forgiveness. Xiao Gang allowed Xiao Xu to enter the court and retain his original title.

After this battle, Xiao Xu lost his will to fight, and Jiangdong was basically under Xiao Gang's control.

Xiao Gang and Xiao Yi each occupied a region, but the biggest beneficiary was Chen Baxian in Guangzhou.

In Lingnan today, most of the powerful local lords have chosen to break away from the Southern Liang dynasty, establishing their own territories and slaughtering members of the Southern Liang imperial family. Only a few officials, such as Chen Baxian, still respect the Liang dynasty. Therefore, Chen Baxian has become a target for both sides to court.

Chen Baxian did not choose to completely side with either side, but rather acknowledged both and sought benefits from both. Furthermore, in this process, Chen Baxian obtained the crucial power to establish his own government, becoming the supreme military and political governor of the various prefectures in Lingnan, and building his own power base.

When Xiao Cha, who remained in Xiangyang, learned of the fall of Jiangxia, he wanted to head south, but the situation changed too quickly, and the army in Xiangyang had many concerns about moving south.

By the time news of Xiao Yu's death arrived, it was too late for Xiao Cha to launch a military campaign.

Now that Xiao Cha wants revenge, the only option is to seek help from Li Shuang.

In Xiangyang, an imperial edict arrived from Luoyang. Xiao Cha received it, gritted his teeth, and turned pale.

His subordinates behind him all breathed a sigh of relief.

The meaning of the imperial edict is very simple and can be described in just two words.

No!

After Li Shuang ascended the throne, all the princes of the Xiao clan were demoted. This was not only the case for the princes of the Xiao clan who had surrendered to the north, but also for the Xiao clan lords of various large and small fiefdoms on the border.

Those who accepted the title received both investiture and protection; those who did not choose to retain their titles and instead pledged allegiance to Xiao Gang and Xiao Yi in the south.

Xiao Cha accepted the offer and became the Duke of Yueyang and the Prefect of Xiangzhou in the Tang Dynasty.

The officials of the Southern Liang dynasty in Xiangyang had all submitted to the Tang dynasty, but they still worked under Xiao Cha.

However, there is always a price to pay.

Those who refused to accept it instantly became traitors and targets for attack.

Xiao Cha chose to accept protection, thus losing his independence.

Xiao Cha held the imperial edict in his hand and only sighed after the envoy from Luoyang had left.

"The sage does not wish to wage war; would he simply sit idly by and watch that traitor Xiao Yi grow powerful?"

Although Xiao Cha's current strength is small, he has renowned ministers and veteran generals such as Liu Zhongli and Lan Qin under his command, and his army is quite powerful.

Liu Zhongli, standing nearby, advised:

"The construction of Chang'an involved a large amount of manpower and resources. In addition, the rebellion in the Central Plains had just been quelled, and the court was reforming its internal and external systems. It is understandable that the emperor did not want to send troops south at this time."

Xiao Cha smiled wryly:
"I'm afraid it's more than that!" Liu Zhongli remained silent upon hearing this, but Lan Qin, standing to the side, asked:

"What does the Lord intend?"

“The envoy from Luoyang not only came to me, but also went to Jiangling.”

……

Jiangling.

Xiao Yi paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, his heart filled with anxiety.

The envoy from Luoyang, carrying the imperial edict of investiture, arrived in Jiangling City. Xiao Yi already knew the envoy's purpose.

Li Shuang wanted to appoint him as the King of Chu.

Xiao Yi was unsure whether he should accept this offer.
If it were up to Xiao Yi's personality, he would definitely have chosen to throw the edict into the fire and then declare himself emperor.

In fact, the abdication ceremony held in Luoyang had a great impact on the Xiao family.

If Xiao Yi doesn't do this, his legitimacy will only decrease.

But if he really did that, Xiao Yi didn't know if he could withstand the backlash from reality.

Zhou Hongzheng walked into the room, and Xiao Yi, as if a drowning person had found a lifeline, tugged at his sleeve and asked:
"Lord Zhou, has there been any news from Jiankang?"

Zhou Hongzheng shook his head.

The two people in the room were both intelligent, so how could they not understand that since the envoy from Luoyang had arrived in Jiangling, why wouldn't he have gone to Jiankang?
For Xiao Yi, the best solution now is for him to cooperate with Xiao Gang to fight against the North.

"If the Crown Prince is willing to join forces with Your Majesty, would Your Majesty be willing to honor the Crown Prince as Emperor?"

Zhou Hongzheng's question stumped Xiao Yi.

Of course he was unwilling.

But if he didn't admit it, why would Xiao Gang join forces with him?
Xiao Yi sighed and said:

"Is my Xiao family's dynasty truly doomed to perish?"

Zhou Hongzheng shook his head and said:
"The Tang emperor is reforming the system and building Chang'an, but he has no intention of launching a military campaign southward. If Your Majesty wishes to preserve the state, the best course of action now is to honor the Crown Prince as emperor. Otherwise, accept this edict and become a vassal king of Tang, and wait for another opportunity."

"..."
-
Luoyang.

Inside the Xianyang Palace, Li Shuang was handling government affairs when Zu Ting requested an audience outside the palace.

Li Shuang let him in, and saw that he was walking hurriedly and breathing slightly out of breath.

Zu Ting has just received the latest news from the south.

“Sage, news has arrived from the south.”

"how?"

"Xiao Yi accepted the emperor's investiture, and Xiao Gang of Jiankang, seeing this, no longer refused and accepted the edict to be made King of Wu."

Zu Ting, standing to the side, said softly:

"I have heard that Xiao Yi once said to his attendants that Sun Quan also submitted to Cao Pi, but when the time was right, he rebelled and established the Eastern Wu, becoming a regional emperor. He told his subjects to endure humiliation for a while and then plan for the future of the state."

Li Shuang listened and laughed:
"Why imitate anyone but the King of Wu of the Great Wei Dynasty!"

……

(End of this chapter)