While Zhao Hu and Heng Wenhao were recovering the remaining territory of Wenjin, Zhao Cheng had already returned to the capital. This campaign, which lasted for more than a year, completely changed the landscape of the East.
From a broader perspective, this unification war did not take long, but the losses to the people and the economy were considerable. This was only because Xiao Luofeng recovered the southern lands without bloodshed, giving the people of the southern lands and the Zhao Han court a chance to breathe.
The first thing Zhao Cheng did upon returning to Changsui was not to attend court, but to take Wen Tai to see Zhao Huan.
As the sun set, Zhao Huan and Wen Tai sat facing each other, drinking, with Emperor Zhao Cheng serving them. It was as if there were no retired emperor or the two emperors present, only father and son and master and disciple.
"Tai, you're aging too fast." Zhao Huan lay on her side on the cushion, stroking her long hair that fell to her waist with one hand and pointing at Wen Tai with the other.
Wen Tai hunched over, his attitude towards Zhao Huan extremely respectful, as if he had returned to the moment when he first became Zhao Huan's disciple.
"Teacher, the students brought this on themselves."
Do you regret it?
Wen Tai thought about it seriously for a moment and said, "I don't regret it. If I hadn't done this, I wouldn't be alive now. Perhaps, none of us would be alive now."
That's a fair point.
Zhao Huan naturally understood Wen Tai's meaning. Given Yuan Xiu's initial suspicion of his subjects and his subsequent methods, if he and Wen Tai did not resist, both of them would be killed by Yuan Xiu.
"come over."
Zhao Huan beckoned to Wen Tai, who immediately crawled over.
Zhao Huan placed his hand on Wen Tai's head and said, "Chang Sui is your home. As your master and disciple, I will give you a good end."
"The student thanks the teacher..."
Zhao Huan kept his word and arranged a residence for Wen Tai so that he could spend his old age in peace. Zhao Cheng didn't care either, because Wen Tai was no longer a threat to Zhao Han.
Zhao Cheng understood his father's intentions. Given his father's reputation-conscious nature, not killing Wen Tai was the best choice.
As for important figures in Wen Jin such as Du Yucheng and Liu Ling, none of them were spared.
Wang Yuluan received a title that was merely nominal and was left idle at home by Zhao Cheng to take care of his mother.
Meanwhile, in the Great Yue Empire, Zhao Cheng was unusually generous, bestowing great rewards upon Ximen Fusu. He not only had Zhou Chuan personally deliver gold and silver but also gifted Jinran County to him.
In Zhao Cheng's words, although Jinran Kingdom was conquered by Wen Jin and turned into a prefecture, in his eyes it has always been the territory of the Western Regions, and the Western Regions should be governed by the King of the Western Regions.
This greatly surprised Ximen Fusu, who was deeply grateful. To show his enduring friendship with Zhao Han, he sent his ten-year-old daughter to Changsui to marry Zhao Cheng's son.
Zhao Cheng and Yuan Yun discussed and decided that after the child grew up, she would become Zhao Changli's crown princess.
Ximen Fusu was overjoyed. If Zhao Changli successfully ascended the throne, his daughter would be the Empress of Zhao Han!
This further solidified Zhao Changli's position as crown prince. The court officials understood that Zhao Cheng's choice of a princess from the Western Regions as empress was paving the way for the crown prince's future.
In the eyes of the court officials, although the crown prince was only eleven years old, he already showed signs of being a benevolent ruler.
He was different from Zhao Cheng; he was refined, friendly, well-read, and most importantly, kind and loving towards the people.
In his discussions with the scholars, the Crown Prince proposed national policies that would benefit the people, which reassured the vast majority of civil officials in the court.
From the Dajing era to the present, war has raged across the eastern lands. What is the most needed after the unification of Zhao and Han?
It's peace!
Everyone knows that Zhao Cheng is someone who never seeks trouble for himself. He doesn't covet the territory of the Western Regions; he only thinks about how to make money and develop the economy.
Peace after unification seems inevitable at present, but what about after Zhao Cheng?
They still hoped that the emperor after Zhao Cheng would be a ruler who maintained the status quo.
War mania is probably no longer needed in the next few decades.
When Zhao Hu and Heng Wenhao returned to report, the court officials were very excited. The territory of Wen Jin, like that of Southern Zhou, had already been annexed by Zhao Han.
This is a historic moment.
Even the elderly Mu Shanyue wrote a letter to the court to express his congratulations.
But while the ministers were still celebrating, someone suggested, "We should take advantage of this momentum and send troops to Hou Cang!"
"Yes! The Han army is invincible, and has crushed Houcang!"
Those who said these things were military generals and hawkish civil officials; they were only a minority, and most people hoped to end the conflict.
"What use is such a tiny place?"
"Hou Cang is also part of the Eastern land. Although its territory is not large, it cannot be called the unification of the world until Hou Cang is recovered!"
A quarrel broke out in the imperial court.
"Hou Cang is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it has been developing its economy steadily for many years. Do you think it can be taken down so easily?"
"It is precisely because Houcang is economically prosperous and rich in resources that we must fight!"
"Your Majesty, I believe we should first send envoys to negotiate."
"What's the use of peace talks? Peace talks are just a delaying tactic! Once they're ready, they can march north to Yichuan County and east to Xiangshan County. Are we going to let them lead us by the nose?"
"You brute!! Are you still holding a grudge because you didn't achieve any merit when fighting Wen Jin? How can the empire wage war for your own selfish reasons?!"
"What nonsense are you spouting, you old scoundrel?! When I earned my military merits, you were still a poor scholar!!"
"..."
As the courtiers' verbal battle intensified, Zhao Cheng gave Zhao Zhan a wink, then covered his ears and slipped away unnoticed.
"Your Majesty, where are we going?" Zhao Hu and Heng Wenhao had many handover matters to attend to after their return, and Huang Hua accompanied Zhao Cheng on his escape.
Over the years, Huang Hua has passed Zhao Cheng's tests and assisted Dong Hua in handling the construction matters in an orderly manner. At his own request, he has become the eunuch closest to Zhao Cheng.
Anyway, Zhao Hu had already 'washed' him many years ago.
This skipped a crucial step.
A meteoric rise.
"Xiao Hua, how's the Red Sleeve Pavilion in Changsui City?"
"Your Majesty, it has already been expanded twice, and it is now the largest and best building in Changsui."
"Li Guanyu is that amazing? How long has it been since I've enjoyed life?"
Zhao Cheng winked at Huang Hua and said, "Let's go to Hongxiu Tower!"
As he spoke, Zhao Cheng glanced at Xu An, who was arguing heatedly with the other officials, and said, "This idiot, what's he arguing with them about? Can we get to the bottom of this in a short time? Go and tell Vice Minister Xu to gather at Hongxiu Tower."
"yes."
"Xiao Luomu is also in Changsui. Let's invite him too. It's been a while since the four young masters of Yanchuan have gathered together!"
In the days that followed, Zhao Cheng would still attend court as scheduled, but whenever the officials started arguing, he would make a hasty exit to relieve himself, leaving Zhao Zhan and Xu Shouli behind to mediate. He would also have Zhao Changli sit in on the court session to see how the civil and military officials treated the court like a marketplace.
In Zhao Cheng's words, "My father forced this throne on me. I have already helped him destroy the Southern Zhou and Wen Jin, and developed the Zhao Han economy. Why should I work for him every day?"
I don't want to work; I want my crown prince to become an apprentice and start working as soon as possible!
As the days passed, just as the ministers were about to fight each other in the court over the matter of Hou Cang, an astonishing piece of news arrived.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Houcang Kingdom has arrived!"
"What the hell??" Zhao Cheng quickly got out of bed and pulled up his pants.
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