Liang Xiao replied, "Actually, we should ask His Majesty how he intends to handle them. However, I and His Majesty have already discussed this matter, and I even carry an imperial decree with me for emergencies."
"The remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom have indeed been much more subdued recently, and with the successive emperors advocating for their surrender, there is room for maneuver. Those who harm innocent people will be directly prosecuted. As for the rest, those who can be persuaded to surrender will be. Those who cannot, as long as they can be ensured not to cause further trouble, can be allowed to live as law-abiding citizens."
Towards the end, Liang Xiao sighed, "His Majesty has even permitted that if Yue Lianruo and I have offspring in the future, one of them may choose the surname Chou and receive enfeoffment from the Great Gan Kingdom. As royal descendants of the surrendered Great Heng Kingdom, this could appease these remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom..."
Zhuo Zifang and Gongsun Ye looked at the imperial decree handed over by Liang Xiao, their faces filled with disbelief.
After his sigh, Liang Xiao forced a bitter smile.
The emperors of the Great Heng Kingdom seemed to possess the benevolence of Emperor Renzong of Song and the frugality of Emperor Wen of Han. It was truly inconceivable.
No one could have imagined that the late Emperor Wen would save Zuo Xun and entrust her to Zhuo Zifang to raise!
The only one described as iron-blooded was the Great Gan's First Emperor. In Liang Xiao's understanding, the Great Gan's First Emperor had the demeanor of Emperor Taizu of Ming and Emperor Gaozu of Han. However, after pacifying the realm, he did not abandon his meritorious officials; all received good endings, and he ushered in an era of revival, which again resembled Emperor Guangwu of Han.
And now, his "Little Frosty" possessed the spirit of the late emperor, being benevolent and enlightened.
No matter what, he had to protect his "Little Frosty"!
This was also protecting Great Gan and all its people!
"I fear the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom will not surrender so easily," Zhuo Zifang said with concern.
Liang Xiao retrieved a case file and a memorial from a cabinet, handing them to the elders.
"His Majesty had the Shadow Guard send over the secret records concerning the fire case from that year. It turns out that the one who exposed the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom and rashly led troops to suppress them was Grand Tutor Gongyang He. His personal memorial is well preserved! The late emperor rushed over upon hearing the news, intending only to persuade them to surrender, not to force their slaughter."
After reading the case file, Zhuo Zifang's old eyes brightened, "In this way, even if they refuse to surrender later, you can shift some of the blame to the Gongyang clan!"
Liang Xiao smiled, "However, this matter cannot be made public for now. What if Gongyang He is also in league with the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom? I want the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom to surrender quietly and catch Gongyang He off guard!"
"Since His Majesty has a plan, we will not offer unsolicited advice. We will cooperate fully, provided these rebels have not slaughtered innocent people!" Gongsun Ye was overjoyed and solemnly promised.
As a military man and the nominal Marshal of Jiangnan, Gongsun Ye had been repeatedly slandered by the Gongyang clan. Nothing would bring him greater joy than causing trouble for them.
Since Liang Xiao had been promoted to Deputy Marshal of Jiangnan, he also had the authority to mobilize a portion of the Jiangnan army.
Liang Xiao stood up and said, "The immediate priority is to select talented individuals and cultivate them early, so that they can, along with other families loyal to His Majesty, replace the entrenched aristocratic families in various regions. The short-term effect will be significant. In the long term, it will require ten years of unwavering effort in education and promotion to allow more people the opportunity to study. Otherwise, the imperial examinations will be rendered a mere formality!"
Because the vast majority of commoners could not afford to study, the imperial examinations of Great Gan yielded limited results. In fact, most of the slots in the imperial examinations were occupied by members of the aristocratic families. Although there were opportunities for disciples from humble backgrounds.
However, the "humble" backgrounds in Great Gan were actually fallen nobles and scions of aristocratic families, not truly commoners. It was not impossible for these individuals to form new aristocratic families in the future...
The monopoly on the classics had to be broken at its root!
Zhuo Zifang naturally offered his full support, while Gongsun Ye took Liang Xiao to the military camp in Jinling to inspect the troops.
Shi Liuyun and the others had been waiting for a long time. After escorting Liang Xiao into the tent, they all cast sympathetic glances at his retreating figure.
Inside the tent, the generals sat on both sides, with Liang Xiao seated next to Gongsun Ye.
"My unfilial daughter has finally done something right by taking such a rare talent as Liang Xiao as her disciple and son-in-law." Gongsun Ye raised his wine cup and laughed heartily, appearing to be in high spirits.
"Marshal, you flatter me. However, my master respects you greatly. If you visit her occasionally, you might mend fences..."
Before Liang Xiao could finish, Gongsun Ye's expression changed on the spot, "You are discussing my family matters in the military camp? What is the meaning of this!"
Liang Xiao was utterly bewildered.
Shi Liuyun and the other generals dared not respond, pretending not to see or hear anything...
In the evening, Liang Xiao returned to the courtyard, his face full of exhaustion, and trembled, "Shameless!"
He had never expected that Gongsun Ye would trick him into discussing the Gongsun family's private affairs, and then use that as an excuse to fine him with a day of military duties, leaving him almost no time for eating or relieving himself.
This old scoundrel was clearly using entrapment tactics!
The girls who were chatting nearby looked over in confusion. Jian Qinwan got up to help Liang Xiao sit down, "What's wrong?"
Upon learning that Liang Xiao had been tricked, Jian Qinwan covered her mouth and chuckled, "I remember now, Grandpa Gongsun particularly enjoys this kind of trick. All the generals under him have fallen for it. It's finally your turn to be tricked, you 'flower thief'!"
Liang Xiao's expression immediately changed, "Then why didn't you tell your husband earlier? No, you have to compensate your husband tonight!!"
Jian Qinwan's heart fluttered, and blushing fiercely, she quickly gave Liang Xiao a kiss to prevent him from taking revenge in bed.
Christie watched this scene, her heart filled with a pang of sadness, "Could he really be the Heavenly General in person? It seems I shouldn't harbor such fantasies..."
It wasn't until the afternoon of the next day that Zuo Wushang galloped back to a shop in the southeast of Jinling City and privately summoned the old steward.
"Steward, apart from the shops and inns, sell off all other assets that cannot be taken with us, especially the farmland and residences!"
The old steward exclaimed, "What does master mean by this?"
"I am worried something might happen in the future. In any case, sell it all! Haven't people been acquiring land in the Jiangnan region recently? Perfect timing!" Zuo Wushang sighed.
"But, master, aren't you suspicious that they are people sent by the court?" the old steward asked, confused.
Zuo Wushang shook his head, "It doesn't matter anymore! In any case, sell everything. You and the other apprentices must be careful and stay away from sparsely populated areas. Stay in the bustling areas within Jinling City. Many people have died recently."
The old steward, loyal to Zuo Wushang, immediately set about making arrangements.
Zuo Wushang looked at the candlelight in the secret chamber, clenched his fist, and said indignantly, "The Hui Chun Sect is so frequently murdering our compatriots. They must be brewing a grand conspiracy. Before the ties are completely broken and they expose us, we should still prepare for the worst..."
Thinking of the decree to seize farmland, Zuo Wushang felt a sense of unease, fearing that the emperor might directly requisition these farmlands one day.
For a long time, the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom had controlled vast tracts of farmland. Their purpose was to hire tenant farmers, treat them well, win their hearts, and use this opportunity to nurture retainers.
Once chaos erupted, they could incite these tenant farmers and retainers to join them in rebellion, quickly raise an army, establish their own territory, and contend for the empire!
But all their plans had been ruined by Liang Xiao's appearance, the machinations of the Hui Chun Sect, and the untrustworthiness of the Southern King.
Zuo Wushang had a premonition that he would eventually be betrayed by the Hui Chun Sect!
Tomorrow was the day Liang Xiao publicly sold "One Drunk Century." He wanted to witness firsthand the situation of Zuo Xun, the Jinling's "Painting Immortal" who had recently risen to prominence!