Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 555 Loyal Ministers and Generals
Jiangling.

Xiao Yi returned to his residence, but could not hide his anger.

"This Xiao Cha, relying on Da Ye Shuang's influence, is so arrogant!"

Xiao Yi knew about the change in the military system in Xiangzhou from the beginning, but he didn't care and just watched it for fun.

Even when Luoyang sent Yuwen Hu, it didn't cause much of a stir.

However, the situation changed when General Dugu Xin, who was in Nanyang, was executed.

Liu Zhongli, who had initially held reservations in Xiangyang, turned to support, and the remaining dissenting voices also chose to submit under the iron cavalry led by Dugu Xin.

In Xiangzhou, Beiyingzhou and other places, fifteen military districts were set up, with a total of 15,000 soldiers.

While changing the military system, Xiao Cha was not satisfied with the existing territory, but continued to send troops south to expand the land.

Xiao Yi felt resentful but powerless to do anything about it.

Xiao Yi's Chu state was like a vassal state during the Han dynasty. As the King of Chu, he held great military and political power in the country and was able to appoint his own officials.

Its territory extends from Yidu County in the west to Nanchang County in the east.

The borders of the Chu state were clearly defined at both the east and west ends, as there were no disputes.

In the western region of Bashu, after Li Shengui, the Prince of Chenliu, went to Luoyang, Li Shuang appointed Wang Sizheng to guard Chengdu and Wang Bi to guard Jiangzhou.

After the veteran general Wang Bi passed away last year, Huli Guang took over the post of garrison commander of Jiangzhou.

After Xiao Gang defeated Xiao Xu in the east, he seized Nanchang and other places, which are now all Wu territory.

Xiao Yi wanted to expand in these two directions, but he had neither the opportunity nor the strength.

However, the north and south sides are different.

Xiangyang is extremely important to the Jingxiang region. With this city, the northern army can be blocked in Nanyang. However, Xiao Cha has arrived in Xiangyang first, and Xiao Yi cannot take it back in time. The most ideal situation is to suppress Xiao Cha's power as much as possible north of Yicheng.

In any case, the Luoyang court did not clearly determine whether the land between Dangyang and Yicheng belonged to the Chu Kingdom or Xiangzhou, so naturally it belonged to whoever controlled it.

But now, with the establishment of the Zhechong Prefecture, Xiao Cha sent his troops south and forcibly occupied these lands. Xiao Yi was at a loss as to what to do.
"Ohno Sou, Ohno Sou, how dare you call a saint by his name?"

The sharp voice rang out, and Xiao Yi's expression changed.

The person who came was his queen, Xu Zhaopei!

Xu Zhaopei was Xiao Yi's legal wife, but because she was not beautiful, she was not favored by Xiao Yi.

Xu Zhaopei also disliked Xiao Yi and often teased him. Because Xiao Yi had an eye ailment and was blind in one eye, Xu Zhaopei would apply makeup to only half of his face whenever he came to her room.

As time went on, the couple grew increasingly distant, and Xiao Yi would not see Xu Zhaopei in her room even once every two or three years.

"What are you doing here!"

Xu Zhaopei showed no fear in the face of Xiao Yi's reprimand.

"Is it not even permissible for me to see the King of Chu?"

Xiao Yi tried his best to calm his anger, sat down to the side, and asked:

"Speak your mind!"

Upon seeing this, Xu Zhaopei forced a smile.

"Your Majesty is now the King of Chu. Are Xiao Fang and the others still the Crown Princes?"

Xiao Yi snorted coldly and said:
"The position of heir apparent is of paramount importance; how dare you, a mere woman, interfere?"

Xiao Yi's words were not just said in anger. In reality, the situation in the State of Chu was not stable at present. The reason for not establishing an heir for the time being was to wait until the situation in the country was more stable before establishing one, which would be more prudent.

But when Xu Zhaopei heard this, the smile on her face immediately disappeared.

"How can it be beyond reproach? I think you just want to install this bastard Xiao Fangzhu as the heir! Don't forget, Xiao Fangzhu is the legitimate eldest son!"

"enough!"

Xiao Yi, enraged, rebuked:

"Do you really think I don't know what you've done all these years? If it weren't for Xiao Fang and the others, would I have given you any face?"

Feeling lonely in her boudoir, Xu Zhaopei began an affair with the monk Zhiyuan. Sometimes, she would also flirt with handsome men.

Over time, these things reached Xiao Yi's ears. However, Xiao Yi didn't intend to interfere, preferring everyone to go their own way. But it would have been one thing if it were just adultery, but Xu Zhaopei was not only promiscuous but also ruthless.

Whichever woman Xiao Yi favored, Xu Zhaopei would harm her, even those who were already pregnant.

Xu Zhaopei was somewhat frightened when she saw Xiao Yi like this.

She was born into the Xu family of Donghai, and her grandfather was Xu Xiaosi, a military officer of the Southern Qi Dynasty. The family was very prominent.

But now, the Southern Liang dynasty has fallen.

With the kingdoms of Wu and Chu each occupying a territory, Xiao Yi wanted to depose her, and she had no power to resist.

Just then, Xiao Yi's attendant, Ji Jiang, came in from outside, cupped his hands, and said:
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Zhou and the others have arrived!"

Xiao Yi looked at Xu Zhaopei, who was terrified and pale, and warned her in a low voice:

"Be a good Princess Consort of Chu. I don't care what you do. As for the Crown Prince's affairs, don't interfere!"

Having said that, Xiao Yi turned and left. Before leaving, he gave instructions to Ji Jijiang.

"Let her go back!"

Seeing Xiao Yi leave, Ji Jiang entered the house and bowed, saying:

"princess!"

Xu Zhaopei looked at the handsome Ji Jijiang in front of her, and her fear vanished in an instant. She brushed her slightly messy sideburns aside and looked alluring with her eyes.

"Ji Jiang, come and help me up."

"This……"

……

Xiao Yi went to the meeting place and saw that the Chu ministers were already waiting. He calmed his somewhat bad mood and put on a smiling face.

"Thank you all for coming."

"See you, Your Majesty!"

"No need for formalities!" Xiao Yi greeted them with a smile, inviting them to sit down. Then he said, "Now that you all know about the situation in Xiangzhou, what should we do?"

The crowd was abuzz with discussion, with most supporting sending troops to drive out Xiao Cha's army.

Xiao Yi nodded, then looked at Zhou Hongzheng, who had remained silent, and asked:

What did the Duke of Zhou think?

Zhou Hongzheng thought for a moment and then said:

"I believe we should fight for it, but how should we fight for it?"

Xiao Yi listened with some doubt and asked:

"How to say it?"

"The old system of hereditary armies is no longer effective. The troops of Xiang and Ying provinces fought bravely for Xiao Cha, and now they know that what they fought for will all fall into his hands. Your Majesty should follow Xiao Cha's example and distribute the land you have gained to the soldiers, and integrate the soldiers with the farmers! In this way, our Chu army will surely become strong."

Hereditary soldiers were professional soldiers, with fathers and sons taking turns. However, as the hereditary soldier system deteriorated, hereditary soldiers became incapable of fighting.

The soldiers in Jiangling today are mostly recruited by Xiao Yi; they are strong in combat but expensive to maintain.

Zhou Hongzheng's suggestion is a good one. Moreover, he only suggested implementing it in certain areas, not promoting it throughout the entire region.

However, just as the Fubing system was not implemented smoothly in Xiangzhou at the beginning, Zhou Hongzheng was met with opposition as soon as he spoke.

The aristocratic families will not allow it!
Seeing that everyone objected, Xiao Yi temporarily put the matter aside and started talking about the affairs of Lingnan.

After the discussion was over, the officials left, and Xiao Yi looked at Zhou Hongzheng's figure for a long time.

"The Duke of Zhou's strategy was indeed a sound one!"

"Your Majesty, the ministers object, I fear..."

Just as Xiao Yi's confidants were about to offer advice, he waved his hand and said:
"My mind is made up. I will leave this matter to Wang Sengbian!"

……

(End of this chapter)