After the rebellion was successful, I realized that this place was the Red Mansion

Chapter 28: Order the Emperor and all the officials to come out of the city and kneel to welcome the King
morning.

There were more pedestrians on the streets of the capital than yesterday. Most people already knew that the court had surrendered Prince Qian. The fighting lasted only half a day yesterday and there were not many casualties. They also heard that Prince Qian had occupied Jiangnan for more than a year, and had clear rewards and punishments, and everyone praised him as a virtuous person. After Prince Qian entered the capital, he should not rob or massacre the city.

Prince Zhongshun, Prince Beijing, Zhuang Jin, and the others arrived at the east gate. Wang Ziteng pointed to the stairs on the city wall and said, "Your Highness, please come in."

"Can't the city gate be opened?"

Prince Zhongshun was somewhat dissatisfied, thinking that it was really indecent to go down in a hanging basket.

Wang Ziteng explained: "Last time we were able to open the city gate because the moat was still there and the drawbridge was up. But after yesterday's siege, the moat has been filled in and the gate can no longer be opened."

Minister of War Zhuang Jin was the first to walk up the stairs and said calmly, "Your Highness, please go up to the city wall. If Prince Qian leads the cavalry to charge through the city gate, everything will be over."

So everyone said that it could not be opened, and Prince Zhongshun had no choice but to give up.

The only thing they can rely on in negotiations with King Qian now is this city wall.

"Uncle, uncle!"

Just as everyone was climbing up the city wall, Jia Lian arrived on horseback. After dismounting, he saluted the prince and ministers and said that he also wanted to see King Qian.

"What are you going to do?" Prince Zhongshun asked coldly. He was very dissatisfied with the Jia family because Jia Baoyu had secretly kept Jiang Yuhan, an actor raised in his family.

Jia Lian looked embarrassed and kept looking at Wang Ziteng.

"Prince Qian wants to see someone from the Jia family."

Wang Ziteng brought up Prince Qian Chu Yan, and then everyone was speechless, even Prince Zhongshun did not dare to object anymore.

Seeing this, Jia Lian breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't dare to say that meeting Prince Qian could save the Jia family, but at least he could save him!
A quarter of an hour later, everyone sat in a hanging basket and went down the city wall, with several horses tied with ropes and lowered.

Because there were so many people going, most of them had to walk. By the time they arrived at the gate of King Qian's military camp, they were already sweating profusely.

When they entered the camp and saw the manager, he said, "King Qian is too busy to receive you. Please wait!"

Everyone was a little suspicious, but they could only wait.

An hour later, near noon, they were finally invited into the tent of King Qian, who had been waiting anxiously.

No one dared to express their dissatisfaction. They came forward to salute King Qian who was sitting in the main seat and introduced their names. King Qian did not stand up, but only gestured for them to sit down.

Surprisingly, Prince Qian looked at Jia Lian and smiled at him, "How is the Jia family doing now?"

Jia Lian became nervous and quickly stood up and replied, "Thanks to Prince Qian, everything is fine at home. Yesterday, we heard that the court had surrendered, and everyone in the family breathed a sigh of relief and is waiting to welcome Prince Qian into the city!"

"Hahaha."

Chu Yan laughed and pointed at him.

No one knew why King Qian was laughing.

"Are you lying?" Chu Yan said with a cheerful smile, "I wouldn't dare tell others, but I'm afraid your daughter wouldn't welcome me into the city!"

Based on his understanding of the book Dream of the Red Chamber, he knew that the girls, maids and servants in the Jia family were not easy to deal with.

"I dare not, I dare not..." Jia Lian smiled awkwardly.

Wang Ziteng was a little confused. How did Prince Qian know so much about the Jia family? Did he want the girls from the Jia family to enter the palace?
What he didn't know was that Chu Yan had read Dream of the Red Chamber and knew more about the Jia family than they did.

"Sit down."

Chu Yan gestured to him and said to them, "Just say whatever you want to say. I just got up and have time to chat with you."

What? Just woke up?

Also, small talk?
Aren’t we here to negotiate today?
Ignoring their puzzled looks, Chu Yan picked up a cup of tea and drank it slowly.

Chu Ming smiled and said, "Prince Qian will make personnel arrangements after he finishes his tea. You only have a quarter of an hour."

Prince Zhongshun suppressed his doubts and said hurriedly, "Prince Chen Ruiqing is the fourth brother of the current emperor."

When he had previously saluted, he had mentioned his title as Prince Zhongshun. Chu Yan asked him, "Do you have an opera singer named Jiang Yuhan in your family?"

"Prince Qian also knew about this?!"

Prince Zhongshun was a little surprised. He didn't expect that his actor had such a reputation outside. It would have been fine if Jia Baoyu just wanted her, but even the rebellious Prince Qian knew about it!
Thinking of this, he hurriedly said: "If Prince Qian likes it, I will immediately send him to the palace and let him perform for Prince Qian!"

"No thanks, I'm not into homosexuality." Chu Yan refused outright.

He had been traveling through time for ten years and had witnessed how men in this world, especially those in higher positions, pursued homosexuality. From princes and nobles to scholars, they all regarded it as an elegant hobby.

"Yes Yes."

Prince Zhongshun gathered his thoughts before trying to speak: "I came here to discuss this with Prince Qian and to welcome His Highness Prince Qian into the city to ascend the throne."

Chu Yan asked him to continue.

"Last night, my brother the Emperor conveyed to us his decree that he was willing to surrender to Prince Qian, but he requested that Prince Qian treat the Shun Dynasty royal family with the traditional rites."

"Ancient ritual?" Chu Yan laughed. "What is it?"

"Emperor Xian of Han abdicated to Cao Wei..."

Prince Zhongshun respectfully stated the preferential treatment conditions that he had discussed with the Queen Mother and the Empress yesterday, and carefully observed Prince Qian's expression, but saw that he was just drinking tea with a calm expression, and his mood did not show.

The officials of the Shun Dynasty who came to negotiate peace also felt the pressure from King Qian. He controlled the life and death of all officials in the capital, and his calm demeanor made them feel uneasy, fearing that they would anger him.

After Prince Zhongshun finished speaking, the tent became quiet.

King Qian had a calm expression, and his subordinates just smiled and said nothing.

"Oh."

Chu Yan put down his teacup, looked at them, and laughed: "Your emperor wants a fief of 10,000 households, which would put him above the other princes. You princes want a fief of 5,000 households, which would put you on par with a county prince. You ministers also want to keep your wealth and official positions. Are you willing to serve the new dynasty?"

Prince Zhongshun was on pins and needles, and said with a stiff upper lip: "I am willing to negotiate for Prince Qian's sake, and perhaps we can reduce the price again."

"No need, I'll show you someone."

Chu Yan gestured to Chu Ming, who shouted outside, "Call General Song in!"

No one knew who he was. After a while, a general wearing Shun Dynasty armor walked in and knelt on one knee to salute Chu Yan.

"It's you……!"

Wang Ziteng stood up in shock. Prince Zhongshun and others still didn't know who he was, but seeing the armor on his body, they could already guess.

Wang Ziteng smiled bitterly and said, "I didn't expect it would be you who opened the city gate."

"what?!"

The officials of Shun Dynasty were horrified.

"Sir Wang." Song Mao bowed to Wang Ziteng and said with his head lowered, "Now that the court has surrendered Prince Qian, the world has changed its master. I was loyal to the emperor before, and now I am loyal to the new emperor."

Wang Ziteng knew that this was just an excuse.

There was constant commotion at the city gate last night. Even if Song Mao did not open the west gate, his subordinates would force him to open it. Last night, Wang Ziteng's subordinates also suggested that he open the city gate, but the court sent people to supervise.

However, the west city gate was not defended and was captured by Prince Qian's army at night. The news was blocked, so that they had to come to Prince Qian this morning to try to negotiate.

It only makes King Qian laugh!

"Do you still want a fief of 5,000 households?" Chu Yan asked with a smile.

Prince Zhongshun broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly stood up and bowed down. All the officials of the Shun Dynasty looked at each other, then stood up and bowed before Prince Qian.

I dare not raise any more objections.

"Tomorrow morning."

Chu Yan ordered: "Tell the Emperor of Shun Dynasty to lead all officials out of the city to kneel and welcome this king, and surrender according to Zhou rituals!"

Zhou Li?

Seeing their confusion, Chu Ming said, "The Records of the Grand Historian: The Family of Weizi of Song records that when King Wu attacked the Shang Dynasty, the noble Weizi surrendered to King Wu of Zhou, bare-chested and with his face bound, holding a sheep in his left hand and straw in his right, and crawling forward on his knees."

Everyone was shocked!
How can the emperor still maintain his dignity by performing such a humiliating act?!

(End of this chapter)