Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 557 Who Have We Ever Been Afraid Of?

In the late winter of the second year of Shaoxia, the envoy sent to Lingnan returned to Luoyang.

They also brought back a large quantity of tribute items from Lingnan.

In Hualin Garden, Gao Huan and Hou Jing stood by, looking at the offerings piled on the ground, their faces beaming as they talked to Li Shuang.

"Your Majesty, these rare treasures were all brought back from Lingnan; they are something that Luoyang has never seen before!"

Hawksbill turtle shell, ivory, abalone, rhinoceros horn, beeswax, spices, and gemstones.

These goods from the Lingnan region weren't nonexistent before, but they were rare.

For example, Cao Pi once asked Sun Quan for abalone.

Even Cao Pi, the emperor of Wei, had to beg Sun Quan for it, which shows how rare this item was in the north at that time.

After the Northern and Southern Dynasties coexisted, if the Yuan family in Luoyang wanted to emulate Cao Pi of yesteryear, Jiankang would probably not easily grant them that favor.

Therefore, while these specialties from Lingnan are not entirely absent in Luoyang, they are quite rare.

In the second year of Shaoxia, the entire city of Luoyang was busy reforming its systems and constructing the Western Capital. In addition, two things were emphasized.

They established local militias in Xiangzhou and other places and established communication with Lingnan.

The previous matter, though fraught with setbacks, was ultimately successfully implemented. Dugu Xin and Yuwen Hu thus gained recognition in the Luoyang court and received commendation.

The next thing was orchestrated by Gao Huan and Hou Jing behind the scenes.

Now, the results have been achieved.

Li Shuang walked along the pile of offerings and then chuckled.

"Chen Baxian is rich enough."

The envoy sent from Luoyang to Lingnan was Sima Xiaonan, the son of Sima Ziru.

Sima Ziru was appointed Duke and remained in his fiefdom in Liaodong, but he sent his son Sima Xiaonan to Luoyang to serve as an official, which was intended to be a hostage.

Upon hearing this, Hou Jing gave Sima Xiaonan a meaningful look.

“Your Majesty, this is because the various prefectures of Lingnan heard that tribute was to be sent to Luoyang, and they all offered up special gifts. This is enough to show the hearts of the officials and people of the various prefectures of Lingnan to be devoted to the rule of the king.”

"Alright, tell me, why are you back so late?"

According to the original schedule, Sima Xiaonan should have returned in late autumn, but now he is three months late.

“Your Majesty, I have been staying in Panyu for several months, during which time a major battle broke out in Lingnan. Lu Zixiong, the former governor of Xinzhou, and Sun Jionghuo, the former governor of Gaozhou, colluded with Li Ben of Jiaozhou to attack Guangzhou. I believe that we should wait until the situation in Lingnan has stabilized before returning.”

Li Shuang listened, nodded, and said:
"Not bad!"

Receiving praise, Sima Xiaonan was delighted and continued:
"Chen Baxian's army was small but well-trained. With the help of Feng Bao, the prefect of Gaoliang, the two sides joined forces and defeated the two traitors, Sun and Lu. After his victory, Chen Baxian marched into Gaozhou and Xinzhou and annexed the former troops of Sun and Lu. After this battle, in Lingnan, except for Jiaozhou, all the Han and Yi peoples in the prefectures had submitted to the Tang banner."

Gao Huan and Hou Jing, upon hearing this, remarked from the side:
"Truly, Heaven blesses the Great Tang!"

Li Shuang nodded, then looked at Sima Xiao and asked:
"You have rendered meritorious service on this mission, and I hereby promote you to Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial!"

"Your Majesty, I thank you greatly!"

……

night.

Gao Huan and Hou Jing, along with Sima Xiaonan and several other young men from Huai Shuo, gathered at the Duke of Lai's mansion for drinks, celebrating Sima Xiaonan's return and his great achievements.

"Yuwen Hu went to great lengths to obtain the rank of a fifth-grade military officer, while Xiao Nan, on this mission to Lingnan, was promoted to the fourth-grade position of Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies. I wonder how those people from Wuchuan will ever be able to hold their heads high again!"

Just as people from Wuchuan gather to drink, boast, and belittle people from Huaishuo, so too do people from Huaishuo.

In the past few months, thanks to the establishment of the Xiangzhou Military Government, significant results have been achieved, and the people of Wuchuan are now able to look down on the people of Huaishuo.

Unfortunately, they couldn't say anything.

Until Sima Xiaonan returned!
"They've just set up a few military headquarters, and look how proud they are. Now they've still gotten into a conflict with the Chu army, and they haven't even gotten the matter done properly."

……

Hou Jing glanced at Gao Huan and asked:

"He Liuhun, how are you?" Gao Huan stroked his beard, pondering.

"Sima Xiaonan certainly deserves credit, but the position of Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies is a bit too high."

Everyone looked at Gao Huan, and Hou Jing, even more puzzled, said:

"what for?"

"You have made great contributions and endured hardship on this mission, but your sudden promotion to the position of Junior Minister is mostly due to the promise that you will return only after the situation in Lingnan has stabilized!"

No one present was a fool; they all understood the implication in Gao Huan's words.

“Things are not what they used to be. The Tang Dynasty has been established, and there are many affairs to attend to. Most emperors prefer those who are capable of handling practical matters.”

Hou Jing pondered this and cursed:

"I say that Yuwen Tai, that scoundrel, knew that building the Zhechong Prefecture in Xiangzhou was a tough job, but he still plunged into it headfirst. In order to get Dugu Xin involved, he spared no effort to use up many favors. In the end, the matter was not accomplished, but he did not complain. It was all to pretend to be a loyal minister in front of the emperor!"

Hou Jing's words immediately provoked a chorus of curses from the Huai Shuo youths present.

Even though they were young people who had never lived in the Six Towns or had left Huai Shuo with their elders when they were young, they still showed righteous indignation towards the people of Wuchuan after being influenced by what they saw and heard.

“These Wuchuan people used to pull this stunt in front of the Six Garrisons and the Xianbei people in Luoyang, and they’re doing it again now.”

"How could a sage be so wise and enlightened as to be deceived by such people!"

……

As the cursing continued, everyone turned to Gao Huan, and Hou Jing took the lead in asking:

"He Liuhun, what do you suggest we do?"

Gao Huan snorted, raised his wine glass, and said:

"When it comes to loyalty and righteousness, who do we Huai Shuo people fear!"

"well said!"

Perhaps due to the effects of the alcohol, Gao Huan shouted:
"The people of Wuchuan are loyal, but we people of Huaishuo are even more loyal! The people of Wuchuan get things done, but we people of Huaishuo get even more and better done!"

"well said!"

……

Separated by only one mansion is the Duke of Yan's mansion.

The atmosphere is a bit depressing.

"We went through so much trouble to set up fifteen military prefectures in Xiangzhou to deal with those Liang people, and it took so much effort. Sa Bao only got a fifth-rank senior general, while Sima Xiaonan went to Lingnan and got a junior minister!" Yu Chi Jiong said, holding his breath. "The emperor is unjust!"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Yuwen Tai gave Yuchi Jiong a stern look and said:

"Lingnan is hot and humid, with many miasma, insects, and snakes. Sima Xiaonan stayed there for half a year and brought back so many tributes and surrender documents from various prefectures in Lingnan. How could he not have made a contribution!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Jiong shut his mouth.

Director Yuwen, standing to the side, said:
"I heard that Gao Huan and Hou Jing put in a lot of effort for this, otherwise, the position of Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies would not have been so easily obtained by Sima Xiaonan."

These words caused quite a stir among the Wuchuan disciples present.

"These Huai Shuo people always loved to show off in front of the Xianbei people in the Six Garrisons and Luoyang, and they still do now!"

"He hasn't done much, but he loves to play the loyal subject!"

……

The crowd cursed and looked at Yuwen Tai. Yuchi Jiong said:

"Uncle, what should we do?"

Yuwen Tai snorted coldly and said:
"When it comes to loyalty and righteousness, we people of Wuchuan have never been afraid of anyone!"

……

(End of this chapter)