Chapter 243: Marquis of Heaven’s Will

Chapter 243: Marquis of Heaven's Will

This was indeed heartening news. Qiu Huanian’s eyes lit up. "Was the King of Annam captured alive?"

Du Yunse shook his head. "When our army attacked the capital of Annam, the king attempted to flee the city with his favored concubine. After the plan was exposed, the Annamese army fell into chaos, and the king died in the chaos."

Qiu Huanian couldn’t help but tutted at the absurdity of the Annamese king’s actions. For a ruler to secretly flee with his concubine when enemies were at the gates, only to be killed by his own people—it was truly a fate he brought upon himself.

"So, what’s to be done with Annam now? Will we install a puppet king or establish a Protectorate General directly?"

Originally, Wu Shen had led the army to attack Annam from the southwestern border to coordinate with Taiping Marquis’ naval forces, helping Champa reclaim the territories occupied by Annam.

Unexpectedly, Great Yu's military might and Wu Shen’s prowess proved overwhelming for Annam. In just a few months, they had taken the Annamese capital.

"After reviewing the battle report, the ministers are split between two camps. One advocates establishing the Annam Protectorate General, turning Annam into a tributary state of Great Yu, with officials sent to co-govern with an Annamese king."

This proposal was somewhat radical, but Qiu Huanian found it feasible. Annam had repeatedly harassed Great Yu’s border towns and bullied smaller states in Nanyang. Given its strategic location, Great Yu needed to subdue Annam to develop its naval ambitions—otherwise, losses would be inevitable.

"And the other proposal?"

Du Yunse replied, "Abolish the Annamese royal family, annex Annam into Great Yu’s territory, reorganize it into prefectures and counties, and bring it under direct imperial administration."

"..." Qiu Huanian was momentarily speechless.

Wait, the second option was even more radical? So the first one was actually the conservative stance?

"What does His Majesty think?"

"Naturally, he favors the second option." Expanding territory and achieving glory were feats no ambitious emperor could resist.

The manpower and resources required to integrate such a vast new territory were incalculable, and maintaining order and governance afterward would be even more challenging. But the Yu Dynasty now had the strength to handle these issues.

"The historical annals record that Annam was once part of the Central Plains a thousand years ago. Now, reclaiming it under our emperor’s rule is merely recovering lost land—justified both in principle and precedent."

Qiu Huanian wasn’t sure how to respond to such a righteous argument. "Did you come up with that?"

"Those are the exact words of the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall, Huang Xuan."

Qiu Huanian opened his mouth, at a loss whether to laugh or sigh.

Huang Xuan was a man of remarkable ability, one of the grand secretaries personally promoted by Emperor Zhaoxin after his ascension. Qiu Huanian wasn’t closely acquainted with him but knew Huang Xuan held deeply traditionalist views, often opposing the innovative measures proposed by Du Yunse and himself.

Having such a principled yet contrarian "political opponent" wasn’t a bad thing—thanks to him, Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse could identify and adjust flaws in their policies.

If even a hardline traditionalist like Huang Xuan was so enthusiastic about territorial expansion, others were even more fervent. No wonder both proposals grew increasingly radical.

Though peace-loving and inclusive, Huaxia had never been a pushover. Across time and history, its people had always been warrior-spirited, with battle-ready blood in their veins.

Qiu Huanian suddenly recalled a contemporary joke he’d once heard—

Western politicians often campaigned on promises to cut military spending, but in Huaxia, anyone who proposed that would be branded a traitor.

No one ever complained about excessive military expenditure—only lamented the inability to publicly fund three, four, five, or even eight more aircraft carriers. Ideally, one per province, to secure our global position—no, to lead the shared destiny of humanity against hegemony.

From ancient times to the present, this raw patriotic fervor had never changed.

Qiu Huanian shrugged. It seemed Annam’s transformation into a Great Yu province was inevitable. Strictly speaking, he, the Qishu County Lord ennobled for agricultural contributions, had played no small part in this.

—In another world, agriculture and military affairs had long been two sides of the same coin. Who said warfare had nothing to do with the Qishu County Lord?

...

As Qiu Huanian had anticipated, the attitudes of various factions both inside and outside the court were nearly unanimous regarding expanding territory and punishing the disloyal.

Within less than a month, the court had finalized a comprehensive plan.

Annam—or rather, the newly established Jiaozhou—was redivided into seven prefectures and thirty-six counties based on ancient texts. Key official positions were all assigned to officials dispatched by the Yu Dynasty, accompanied by tens of thousands of immigrants who voluntarily relocated in hopes of securing land for sustenance and a better life.

When demarcating the borders, Great Yu honored its promise by fully restoring the lost territories to Champa, which in turn pledged allegiance to Great Yu. The regent, Princess Yu Cao, was granted the title of Nation-Protecting Princess.

The journey from Tianjin Port to the royal capital of Champa took less than twenty days. When the envoys of Great Yu arrived at the capital, they coincided with the year’s first snowfall.

Snow was an uncommon sight in Champa—some years might pass without a single flake. The grain-sized snowflakes swirled in the wind, melting the moment they touched the ground.

Princess Yu Cao led her officials to personally welcome the envoys at the docks. Despite her considerable growth over the past year, she still stood stunned upon recognizing the figure at the center of the grand procession.

A gust of north wind swept by, dusting the person’s brows and lashes with scattered snowflakes, like brushstrokes in a misty painting.

"Teacher, you..."

Her gaze lingered on the intricate and opulent ceremonial robes he wore, and the deference shown by the rest of the Great Yu envoy. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

"Your Excellency, we have arrived."

Mei Wangshu gave a slight nod, grasping the gold-inlaid white jade scepter symbolizing his role as envoy, and stepped off the ship with measured steps.

His face was no longer disguised—everyone knew he was a male omega, yet not a single voice dared question his suitability for such a weighty responsibility.

Twenty days prior, on the eve of the envoy’s departure, Emperor Zhaoxin, who had already consolidated firm control over the entire court, announced several shocking edicts.

The first edict cleared the name of the nearly extinct Mei clan of Guzhu, whose members had mostly perished on the frontier. The Mei clan’s wrongful conviction had occurred over two decades earlier, with key evidence destroyed by Prince Pingxian and others. Emperor Zhaoxin issued an absolute command to leave no stone unturned in searching for remaining evidence regardless of cost or time. Over a year later, irrefutable proof of the Mei clan’s innocence was finally uncovered.

All evidence, along with the imperial decree absolving them, was publicly announced, leaving no room for future generations to doubt the legitimacy of their vindication.

The second edict arranged the marriage between Mei Zhengchun, the eldest daughter of the Mei family, and Hanlin Academician Wen Huiyang. Wen Huiyang was a great scholar renowned throughout the land, the Number One Scholar of the first year of Emperor Yuanhua’s reign. Mei Zhengchun, however, was a widowed woman who had been married before. The proclamation of this edict sparked an uproar, with many moral traditionalists rushing to oppose it. Without needing others to intervene, Wen Huiyang personally rebutted each critic, vividly demonstrating that great scholars were not all docile scholars.

Those detractors, recalling Wen Huiyang’s youthful days of speaking truth with sword in hand and resigning to wander the land, slunk away in disgrace. Had they not backed down, they would have faced not just Wen Huiyang but also the combined influence of Du Yunse and Qishu County Princess—who would dare provoke such a force?

If the first two edicts were merely unexpected, the third one truly made the rigid traditionalists furious enough to spit blood.

Emperor Zhaoxin "discovered" Mei Wangshu, the last remaining descendant of the Mei main family, and simultaneously publicized Mei Wangshu’s achievements in Champa, including the discovery of Champa rice. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau submitted a memorial declaring him a blessed and auspicious figure for Great Yu, whereupon Emperor Zhaoxin granted him the title of Marquis of Heaven's Will.

—Yet this legendary and noble Mei descendant was a male omega.

Some, not daring to openly oppose, tactfully suggested that Emperor Zhaoxin instead grant Mei Wangshu the title of princess. Failing that, even gritting their teeth to make him a Qing Lord would suffice. But before the next day dawned, the noble critic who had proposed this was demoted and exiled to a remote county as a lowly magistrate.

In the end, the debate over the Marquis of Heaven's Will came to nothing under the emperor’s unwavering resolve.

The Mei family was indeed nearly extinct, but they were far from isolated in the court—instead, they wielded considerable influence. The holder of the highly prestigious position in the esteemed Hanlin Academy was soon to become the Mei family’s son-in-law. In the next generation, the most revered Qishu County Princess of the dynasty was of direct Mei lineage.

On the day Qiu Huanian’s identity was revealed, those who heard the news were completely astonished. Every achievement he had earned along his journey was not due to this lineage—rather, it was he who had brought further glory to it, redeeming both the deceased and the surviving members of the Mei family.

Those who secretly resented Qishu County Princess regretted not uncovering this truth sooner. Had they exposed his identity earlier, he might have been punished or exiled as the descendant of a convicted official.

Such wishful thinking could only lurk in dark corners, withering instantly under the slightest exposure to public ridicule.

The remaining Mei survivors, though few, were each powerful and favored by the emperor. With their allies holding high positions and imperial trust, almost no one in the court could rival them.

The last surviving members of the Mei family all received honors and compensation. Qiu Huanian forwent his own portion, petitioning for his share to be transferred to his mother, Mei Zhengchun.

Mei Zhengchun was made County Princess of Snow Plum. After this year's winter snow arrived, Wen Huiyang, accompanied by Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse, would travel to Du Family Village in Liaozhou to move his beloved's remains.

This impatient red plum, which had bloomed too early amidst frost and snow, drifted in the wind for nineteen years before finally coming to rest in memory's warm embrace.

Upon receiving the imperial decree, Wen Huiyang drank himself senseless, clutching the long-awaited golden scroll he had fought for all his life, laughing and weeping. Once sober, he requested to meet the couple who had abused and tormented Mei Zhengchun.

Mei Wangshu was uncharacteristically hesitant, but seeing Wen Huiyang's insistence, he finally took him to an inconspicuous abandoned house in the outskirts.

The foolish, cruel, and wicked pair had their ears and limbs severed, one eye gouged out, half their tongues cut, and their bones shattered, kept alive by some mysterious drug as they writhed on the ground.

Mei Wangshu had done all this himself in front of Jia Hongyuan after capturing them.

His hands were steady, his face expressionless—only when the last cut was made did he forget to avoid the handkerchief Jia Hongyuan used to wipe the blood from his face.

Mei Wangshu did not want Wen Huiyang exposed to such brutality. In truth, he hadn't even given Qiu Huanian the full story, let alone allowed him to witness it firsthand.

Yet Wen Huiyang, a scholar who'd spent his life with poetry and classics, felt no discomfort. Instead, he smiled and borrowed a sharp dagger from Mei Wangshu.

"Xue'er was my wife. Her child is well. They have nothing to do with you."

The no-longer-human Qiu Chuanzong's remaining eye widened in terror as he let out incoherent sounds. Wen Huiyang swung the dagger, and blood sprayed before his eyes, so hot it sent shivers through him.

"It's snowing," Mei Wangshu murmured from his place by the tall window.