Chapter 626: The Initial Pacification of Jiangnan

The cruelty of war lies not only in its slaughter of innocent lives but also in its suddenness and ferocity—once it begins, it cannot be stopped, and there is no mercy shown. The victors will plunder everything from the losers before settling down.

Li Qing’an had planned for nearly half a year and waited over a month for the battle in Jiangnan. When it suddenly erupted, it unfolded with relentless force, without hesitation. On New Year’s Eve, 30,000 Northern Tang cavalry surrounded 60,000 troops in Zixi County with lightning speed, capturing them all without a single casualty. Then, the Northern Tang forces split into two groups. Li Baozhen and Zhao Chongjie each led 10,000 cavalry, like two sharp blades, charging straight at the Southern Jiangnan camp in Runzhou with unstoppable momentum.

Li Lin’s grand dreams for Jiangnan collapsed like a huge hollow building under the Northern Tang forces’ surgical strikes. In just two days, two elite cavalry units of the Northern Tang swept through Jiangnan. Local troops there rebelled one after another, tearing down Li Lin’s Vermilion Bird flags and raising the Northern Tang’s black banner with a yellow dragon. The various prefectures and counties in Jiangnan also drove away Li Lin’s governors. His warehouses were seized by local authorities, his Wu Kingdom palace in Suzhou was burned down by enraged crowds, and the 500,000-shi military grain store north of Suzhou was looted by tens of thousands of people.

At first, urgent pleas for help flew like snowflakes to the Southern Jiangnan camp in Runzhou. But two days later, there were no more requests for aid. For Li Lin, everything south of Runzhou was dead silent; all his forces had fallen apart.

The two Tang cavalry units had entered Runzhou territory. Zhao Chongjie’s forces intercepted the troops trying to flee by boat in Jiangning County. The Southern Jiangnan troops fought in desperation. With just three charges, 10,000 elite cavalry defeated 20,000 troops led by General Zhu Tao, killing 3,000 enemies and capturing over 15,000. General Zhu Tao was killed by Zhao Chongjie’s arrow.

In the early morning, the two elite Tang cavalry units met 40 li south of Dantu County in Runzhou. Their next target was the last 20,000 troops in Dantu County, with King Wu Li Lin inside the camp.

Illness comes slowly, but leaves just as suddenly.

Inside the golden silk wool tent, everything was in disarray. Piles of documents covered the floor—land contracts, local registers. Some were neatly packed, while others were scattered, so chaotic that one couldn’t even step through.

King Li Lin sat motionless on a wooden crate, like a person still half-asleep, his gaze lost and unfocused. But his dreams had shattered—he could never have imagined that the Northern Tang army, which ten days earlier had struggled to find a boat to cross the river north of the Yangtze, would suddenly appear right before his eyes overnight. Li Qingan, who had been ready to shoot for over a month, suddenly fired an arrow straight at his face. Sixty thousand troops sent on the southern campaign were missing, his son’s fate unknown, and he himself was on the brink of death.

Retreating was now inevitable. The courage he had to fight Li Qingan had long vanished. He was still a bit confused; he wanted to savor the scenery of the south once more, but did he still have that chance?

“Your Highness, hurry! If we don’t leave now, the enemy will attack.”

The three advisors who had been urging him to stay and fight Li Qingan were now more determined than anyone else—he must flee quickly, or there would be no chance left.

Li Lin sighed. He looked around but saw no sign of Li Bai.

“Where is Li Taibai?”

“Has Your Highness forgotten? He went to Changzhou to fetch supplies.”

“Oh!”

Li Lin felt as if he had forgotten everything. In just one night, he seemed to have aged ten years. He suddenly felt sad—Li Bai would not be returning.

“Your Highness! Hurry! The enemy cavalry is already twenty li away!”

This time, it was his guards urging him. “If we don’t leave now, it will really be too late.”

The southern camp was still ten li away from the Yangtze River. If they didn’t leave now, it indeed would be too late. Li Lin realized this as well. He stood up, glanced at the crates scattered throughout the camp, and shook his head. “Abandon everything. Tell everyone to get on the boats!”

Time was so tight that there wasn’t even time to leave the camp. A carriage rushed in from the entrance and stopped in front of the main tent. Li Lin took one last look at the camp, gritted his teeth, and ducked into the carriage.

The carriage set off, accelerating rapidly toward the Yangtze River ten li away.

In the middle of the Yangtze River, over twenty warships were lined up in a row. These were warships captured by the Northern Tang army from Yanguan—twenty-five in total, all medium-sized ships capable of carrying three to five hundred stones of cargo. They lay anchored in the middle of the river, from where they could clearly see activities on the southern bank. On the southern bank, hundreds of warships began to lift anchor, their large sails unfurling—like clouds of sails and forests of masts—signaling that the southern army was preparing to withdraw.

At the bow of the largest warship, Li Qing’an held the hilt of his sword, calmly gazing at the enemy fleet miles away. Though still far from them, he could sense their haste and fear—they were already fleeing. It was the fourth day of the first lunar month in the second year of Qingping. He had finally reclaimed Jiangnan. He seemed to see endless rice fields and rivers crisscrossing this fertile land, which had been China’s most prosperous region since the mid-Tang Dynasty.

Although the Tang Dynasty suffered severe damage during the An Lushan Rebellion and its politics were nearly ruined, it managed to survive for nearly two hundred years despite the turmoil, thanks to the continuous supply of resources and food from Jiangnan. Now, this fertile land belonged to him. Yet his blood did not surge with excitement. Strangely, it remained calm and steady, filled only with joy, as if this day had long been expected. One phrase kept echoing in his mind: “He who controls Jiangnan controls the world.”

At that moment, a deep horn sound came faintly from the other side of the river. It was a sound familiar to every soldier from Anxi. Eight years earlier, Li Qing’an had chosen it among countless horns—deep, resonant, like a bass voice with a sandy timbre. When it sounded, it evoked a profound emotional resonance.

Soon, the same deep horn sounds arose on the warships as well, echoing across the river and responding to those from the other side. The horn sounds grew louder, and a group of Anxi cavalry appeared triumphantly in one corner of the riverbank. Then, more and more cavalry appeared along the riverbank for miles. They shouted and charged at the Jiangnan troops who had not yet boarded their ships.

Chaos reigned on the riverbank. Thousands of soldiers failed to board in time, and the Northern Tang cavalry struck. The bank was in utter turmoil—some soldiers resisted, while many others, terrified, knelt and surrendered.

The large ships stopped forming ranks and began turning back toward the middle of the river. About a mile away from Li Qing’an’s ship, nearly four hundred warships slowly left the docks. With their sails billowing in the newly arisen east wind, they set sail westward along the river. At that moment, the largest warship passed by Li Qing’an’s ship, the two vessels being about two hundred steps apart.

Li Lin stood at the bow of the ship, staring intently at Li Qingan’s vessel. Suddenly, he saw Li Qingan, and his eyes were filled with shock. He never expected that his enemy, who had taken away his foundation, was right before him, just two hundred steps away. Fury seemed to burst from his eyes as he longed to swallow Li Qingan whole. The guards beside him also saw Li Qingan and immediately shouted, “My lord, this is our chance! Sink his ship!”
“A chance?”
Li Lin was confused. When had he ever had a chance? He seemed to see Li Qingan’s cold smile and suddenly felt afraid, shouting repeatedly, “Hurry! Leave this place quickly!”
Li Qingan stood at the bow with his hands behind his back. He wasn’t afraid at all that Li Lin’s large ship would ram him—he had seen through Li Lin’s inherent cowardice.
He didn’t order any arrows to be shot either. He simply watched as Li Lin’s large ship drifted away, leaving Jiangnan behind.
“General, are you just letting them go like this?”
He Lou Yurun looked unconvinced at the warships, which had now become small black dots in the distance. Were they really going to let those warships escape right under their noses?
Li Qingan shook his head gently and smiled, “You don’t need to worry. There’s already a naval force ahead that will intercept them.”
After saying that, he waved his hand and ordered, “We can head to the other shore now.”
Twenty-five warships lifted their anchors and slowly sailed toward the south bank of the Yangtze River.
……
Five days later, on the ninth day of the first lunar month, in Jinling County of Changzhou—what is today’s Changzhou—more than 200 officials from ten provinces and over forty counties in the Jiangnan region, including Yang, Chu, Xuan, Run, Chang, Su, Hu, Hang, Yue, and Ming, gathered together to attend the New Year’s celebration hosted by Li Qingan.
Everyone was eager for this meeting, as it concerned the imperial court’s stance toward Jiangnan and its development direction for the next few decades.
Everyone believed that Li Qingan already had a vision for Jiangnan’s future in mind.
The meeting was held in the lecture hall of Changzhou’s Imperial Academy, a grand building that was the most magnificent structure in Changzhou, capable of accommodating 3,000 students. At that time, the hall was packed with people—not only the over 200 officials but also nearly 500 representatives from wealthy merchants and prominent families from various provinces who attended this New Year’s celebration.

It wasn’t a banquet but rather resembled a tea party from later times—people sat in pairs at tables laden with fruits, tea, and various snacks and sweets. According to their rank, the governors sat in the front row, such as Han Heng, governor of Hangzhou; Wu Diqi, governor of Xuanzhou; Li Xiyan, governor of Suzhou; Wei Huangshang, governor of Changzhou; Ji Guangchen, governor of Yangzhou, and so on. Behind them were the chief secretaries, followed by the county magistrates and assistants, and further back were local gentry and notable figures with titles or military honors.

Li Qingan had not arrived yet, and the atmosphere in the venue was lively, filled with whispered conversations and noise.

Han Heng, governor of Hangzhou, and Cui Ning, transport commissioner of Jianghuai, sat at the same table. Although Cui Ning had only recently taken up his post in Yangzhou, he had met Han Heng several times in Chang’an, so they were fairly familiar with each other.

Han Heng was in his forties, a graduate of the imperial examinations, and had been in official service for nearly twenty years, rising from a minor clerk to governor. He had served as governor for seven or eight years, overseeing several provinces, and enjoyed a high reputation. According to normal promotion patterns, his next step would be either to move to the capital for further advancement or to become a regional inspector. In short, Han Heng was a leading official in the Jiangnan region. Additionally, he was an accomplished painter, a famous artist in history known for his depictions of cattle.

Han Heng deliberately sat with Cui Ning hoping to learn from him about Li Qingan’s plans for the Jiangnan region.

He smiled and asked first, “I wonder how well is Minister Cui preparing to dredge the Grand Canal?”

Although Cui Ning had not yet been officially appointed left chancellor, he already held the position of vice prime minister. Everyone knew the vacant left chancellor seat was meant for him. Now, Cui Ning had been temporarily appointed transport commissioner for Jianghuai and Henan as well as censor-in-chief, tasked with dredging the Grand Canal and building storage facilities. He had led a team of over a hundred canal officials to survey the area from Henan to Yangzhou for over a month, gathering extensive data and drawings. He had come to Changzhou to discuss the specifics of starting the work with Li Qingan.

“The preliminary surveys are complete. Now the main issues are labor, funds, and food supplies. Once these two problems are solved, I’m confident I can complete the dredging of the Grand Canal within half a year.”

“Is there a plan to address these issues?”

“Got it!” Cui Ning stroked his beard and smiled. “Last night, His Royal Highness the Prince of Zhao spent the whole night discussing it. The labor will be provided by prisoners from Li Lin’s army—over 80,000 in total. Additionally, the new troops recruited in Yangzhou will be responsible for clearing the waterways from Yangzhou to the Huai River. Before spring plowing, another 200,000 civilians will be mobilized to help with river improvement. As for funds, Yangzhou still has 800,000 strings of salt tax and 450,000 strings of commercial tax, which can all be used for river restoration. Moreover, the Grand General has agreed to allocate half of the 2 million dan of grain to be imported from overseas for river management. With all resources in place, work will officially begin after the Shangyuan Festival.”

Cui Ning spoke at length, but Han Heng wasn’t very concerned about river clearance at that moment. He was more worried about how Li Qingan would manage the region south of the Yangtze River and whether he would plunder it as a defeated area.

He asked cautiously, “Prime Minister Cui, I heard that His Royal Highness the Prince of Zhao launched the attack on the King of Wu first because of soaring prices and shortages in Chang’an. Li Lin has already retreated westward. I wonder what His Royal Highness’s next plan is…”

Seeing the unmistakable worry in Han Heng’s eyes, Cui Ning knew what he was concerned about and smiled slightly. “Is Envoy Han worried about the future of the Jianghuai region?”

Both of them were straightforward people—no subtlety, no probing, just direct answers. Han Heng nodded and sighed softly. “Li Lin has been aggressive in conscripting soldiers and collecting grain in the Jianghuai region. The population there is thin, and they can’t withstand such exploitation; they’ve already been greatly weakened. If the court continues to transport large amounts of resources from there, just as during the Kaiyuan era, I’m afraid the local people won’t be able to bear the burden.”

“Envoy Han is overthinking it. As the governor of Qizhou, I had in-depth discussions with His Royal Highness the Prince of Zhao, during which he also spoke about the Jianghuai region.”

“Oh!” Han Heng became very interested and quickly asked, “What did he say?”

“He only said one thing: that for the Jianghuai region, he would teach them how to fish rather than just take their fish.”

Cui Ning wrote the two characters for “fish” and “fishing” on the table with tea. Han Heng’s eyes lit up, but he also looked puzzled. “Prime Minister Cui, could you explain it in more detail?”

“I can’t go into specifics, but I do know something about His Royal Highness’s approach.”

Cui Ning picked up his teacup, took a sip, and smiled again. “Based on my experience, the first thing His Royal Highness should do in the Jianghuai region is resolve land disputes.”

“Land?”

“Yes! Land.”

Cui Ning nodded firmly and said, “The land issue is the root of all wars and conflicts. Emperor Jingzong forcibly reclaimed lands in Guanzhong. Although it came at a cost of lives, the problem of land consolidation there has been largely resolved, laying a solid foundation for us. Subsequently, His Royal Highness the Prince of Zhao reclaimed lands in Henan through purchase, which also proved effective. In the Jiangnan region, land consolidation is not severe, as most self-cultivating farmers live there. Therefore, His Royal Highness should first establish rules regarding land before considering other matters.”

“I wonder what rules he will set?”

“First, purchasing back excess land held by large landowners; second, freezing land transactions; third, exchanging land for reduced commercial taxes. The second point is Yan Zhenqing’s suggestion, while the third is Pei Min’s. I estimate that pilot projects will be carried out in Jiangnan first.”

“Reduced commercial taxes?” Han Heng pondered for a moment before saying, “Could it be that His Royal Highness the Prince of Zhao intends to develop commerce in Jiangnan?”

Cui Ning laughed. “That’s inevitable, but not entirely. Yangzhou already has the most developed commerce in the country. This can be extended by building more ports in Run, Su, and Yue provinces to promote overseas and inland trade, elevate the status of merchants, and encourage the public to develop handicrafts. Meanwhile, Jiangnan has fertile land, allowing a large number of people from the north to migrate there, improving farming skills, cultivating paddy fields, and increasing food production. After five to ten years of development, Jiangnan will surely become the commercial and agricultural center of the Tang Dynasty. My trip south to improve water transport is also aimed at strengthening connections between Jiangnan and the Central Plains, not to plunder its resources.”

Han Heng let out a long sigh of relief and said softly with a smile, “If that’s indeed the case, I guarantee that the officials in Jiangnan will firmly support His Royal Highness the Prince of Zhao.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a guard at the door shouted loudly, “His Royal Highness the Prince of Zhao has arrived!”

The lecture hall immediately fell silent. Li Qingan, dressed in a first-rank purple imperial robe, hurried in from the main entrance, flanked by several guards. With a smile on his lips, he walked straight to the front and bowed to everyone, saying, “I’m sorry for being a bit late. Please forgive me!”

Applause erupted in the hall. Many people saw Li Qingan for the first time. He appeared young, upright, and full of vigor, completely unlike the fierce and terrifying image described in rumors. Most people liked this young and powerful minister of the Tang Dynasty at first sight.

Wei Huangshang, the governor of Changzhou, secretly gave Li Xiyian, the governor of Suzhou, a thumbs up and said in a low voice, “He really has Emperor Taizong’s bearing!”

Li Xiyian stroked his beard, nodded, and smiled, saying, “Exactly as the governor said.”

Li Qing’an waved his hand and said to everyone, “Let me share some news with you—I just received it myself. King Wu Li Lin’s defeated army encountered the Jingzhou naval forces coming from the east near Wuhu Port in Hezhou. These forces were led by Ge Shu Han’s son and numbered 30,000 strong. A fierce battle took place on the river, Li Lin’s ship was sunk, and he died in the chaos. More than half of his troops were killed or injured, and in the end, they all surrendered.”
There was initially silence in the hall, followed by thunderous applause. With Li Lin dead, the military troubles in the Jiangnan region were completely over.
The atmosphere in the hall became relaxed and cheerful. Everyone felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders. As long as Li Lin was dead, Li Qing’an would no longer blame the local officials and people of Jiangnan.
At that moment, Li Qing’an smiled and said, “I invited everyone here today to discuss the future of the Jiangnan region. This is just an informal discussion—feel free to speak openly without restraint. Let me clarify the purpose first.”
The hall fell silent again, and everyone stared at Li Qing’an eagerly. Then Li Qing’an smiled and said, “As for the role of Jiangnan, I have just ten words: Teach them how to fish, rather than giving them fish…”
“Which envoy would like to speak first?”
“I’ll speak a few words first!” Han Heng stood up and smiled.
…
Early in the morning, a thin mist covered Jiandu Town in Qu’a County. It was a prosperous and peaceful town in Jiangnan, with fewer than a hundred households. The people there were simple and content, living in harmony. Named after the Jiandu River, the town had long been famous for producing Jingkou silk fabrics. Almost every household ran a weaving workshop, and the silk fabrics they produced were always sent as tributes to the capital.
In the mist, Li Qing’an wore an ordinary blue satin robe and a gauze hat. Two attendants carried his luggage and books, making him look like a scholar preparing to take the imperial exams in the capital.
Tomorrow, Li Qing’an would leave Jiangnan and return to Chang’an. Before going back, he needed to settle one matter on his mind.
In the middle of the town’s stone-paved street stood Luo’s Weaving Workshop. The workshop had ten looms and employed over a dozen female workers, making it a medium-sized enterprise in Jiandu Town.
In front of the workshop was the Jiandu River, with a small dedicated dock. Two flat-bottomed cargo boats were tied there. Early in the morning, Luo’s Weaving Workshop was loading goods. Several boatmen were carrying bundles of silk fabrics wrapped in oilpaper onto the boats.
By then, all the goods had been loaded. The merchant who came to purchase them bowed to the workshop owner and said with a smile, “Madam Luo, thank you very much this time. I’ll come to pick up the goods around the end of February. I hope you’ll help me out, and I’ll definitely offer a better price.”

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged woman. Though her hair already had a few silver strands, she still had a delicate appearance, revealing the beauty she must have had in her youth. She smiled gently and said, “Master Shen, you must come early. Recently, Sogdian merchants have come to the town to buy goods at better prices. But since I’ve already promised Master Shen, I will definitely keep my word. However, let me make it clear—if you haven’t arrived by February 25th, I’ll assume you’ve given up, and the goods will go to someone else.”
“I will! I definitely will be there by the 25th!”
The merchant bowed again, and the small boat slowly sailed away. At that moment, a young woman rushed out of the shop and asked, “Mother, have you seen Erlang?”
“Isn’t he over there?”
Madam Luo pointed not far away, where a young man was sitting on a large rock by the river, staring blankly at the half-risen, bright red sunrise. Suddenly, he turned around and said in a deep voice, “Mother, I’m hungry. I want some cakes!”
“Go back to your wife’s room! There are cakes at home!”
A hundred paces away, Li Qing’an watched them. His eyes grew slightly moist as he saw the young woman pull her foolish husband into the room. He murmured, “Wish you a lifetime of peace and happiness!”
He turned and silently left the stone-paved street, heading toward the outskirts of the town. Five miles away, there was a carriage guarded by over a hundred men.
At that moment, Madam Luo turned around, watching Li Qing’an’s retreating figure. Her eyes also turned red.
Volume 15: Securing the World